Tremors Hint at New Eruptions : Rescuers Press Search for Survivors in Volcanic Mud

British rescuers listened today for signs of life under the mud of a volcanic eruption that killed more than 22,000 people, and geologists warned that increased tremors around smoking Nevado del Ruiz may signal more activity.

The British pressed their search despite a government minister’s belief that there is “no one left to rescue.”

“The last three survivors were rescued this morning in Armero, and I believe they later died,” Health Minister Rafael Zubiria said Sunday.

But the British team, using sensitive listening devices, continued trying to detect some sign of life. It worked at night because sound carries farther.

‘People Still Alive’

“Everything indicates that there are survivors to be found,” said Patrick Stanton, head of the British team, “Everything points to that conclusion. There just have to be people still alive out there.”

He said people were found alive Sunday in houses buried in mud, and that many houses with only rooftops protruding had not yet been checked.

Colombian officials say more than 22,000 people, including 8,000 children, were killed when the volcano erupted Wednesday, melting its snowcap and sending a gigantic wall of mud roaring down the Armero Valley.

Parts of 13 villages and almost all of Armero and its surrounding rural area, with a population of 50,000, were wiped out by the 150-foot-high avalanche of muck, water and rubble that swept across the area about 100 miles northwest of Bogota.

More Eruptions Possible

Tremors were detected in the volcano’s vicinity Sunday, and a U.S. scientist said they indicated “a continuing possibility of eruptions.”

“There were 10 earthquakes in an hour around 5 p.m.” said Darrell Herd, the head of a U.S. Geological Survey team. “This is higher than what we have seen.”

He said the jolts, technically called earthquakes, measured less than 2 on the Richter scale and were too faint to be felt by people.

He said U.S. scientists will set up the laser equipment today on the volcano to detect any movement. He said the devices can detect a one-inch movement of the target area from several miles away.

More Believed Trapped

Colombia’s largest group of radio stations, Caracol, appealed to the government to continue rescue operations, saying information from reporters roaming the valley indicated that there are as many as 2,500 survivors lying in the mud or trapped in inundated houses and under debris.

Within an hour, a top aide to President Belisario Betancur, Victor Ricardo, told Caracol in a broadcast interview that rescue attempts could continue.

Smell of death lingers. Page 11.