Storm Threatens Volcano Evacuees

With their backs to a volcano that frightened them out of their homes, residents of a tent camp prepared hurriedly Thursday to face another of nature’s challenges - a hurricane.

Soldiers struggled to get tents to stand up to stiff winds, while a blacksmith forged iron pegs to replace weaker wooden ones.

Women whipped up pots of rice and beans and fried fish and plantains on coal braziers.

Hurricane Iris, which had stalled earlier in the midAtlantic, started moving west again Thursday at 3 mph with top winds near 80 mph. It was about 360 miles east of Montserrat.