“Right now, the information I can provide [is that] Atlânticoline [maritime transport company], has transported 653 people in, I believe, 39 vehicles. SATA has transported around 600 people,” said José Manuel Bolieiro.

The “round figures” regarding the departure of the population of São Jorge were revealed by the president of the Regional Government at a press conference, after a meeting with the mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, and with the president of the Information and Surveillance Center, Seismovolcanic of the Azores (CIVISA), Rui Marques.

José Manuel Bolieiro added that the bad weather on the island did not cancel any air and sea connections and there are no “cancellation forecasts”.