She's 11, survived the accident and still doesn't know her sister's dead

Nthe hospital of the Cape Verdean island of Fire, Genoveva Barros consoles the grandson, survivor of the disaster in which 25 people died, telling him “grandmother is here when you need it”, but hides a news that will be the psychologists to give.

The 15-year-old sister died in the accident and the family hid this information from the 11-year-old boy.

“The psychologists will say”, said the grandmother, explaining that they have not yet had the courage to tell her.

Genoveva arrived at the São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital on the island of Fogo at 7 a.m. (09 a.m. in Lisbon) to learn about his grandson, who, according to the doctors, is stable.

“ He was operated, broke one of his feet, has suture stitches on his face, but he is well ", reported to Lusa Genoveva Barros, 72 years old.

“I come to my grandson and give comfort, I say ‘grandmother is here when you need it’”, he told, adding that the boy asked him for a juice or a yogurt, but the doctor said he could not yet.

“ They haven't said when he'll be able to go home. He's got oxygen. I feel sad, I can’t even sleep, I have pain for all the victims who died.”, said, pointing out that he knew many of the dead, several of his area.

At the door of the hospital, relatives of the victims share grief and mutual support after the tragedy with a bus, arriving early in the morning in search of news about the state of the relatives who survived the accident.

In the corridor of access to the emergency room, family members await news, while others arrive, greet each other, embrace each other and exchange words of comfort.

Agostinho Correia, 55 years old, traveled from the city of Praia to the island Monday to accompany his 12-year-old nephew, hospitalized after suffering injuries to the leg, thigh and head.

“The doctor said that he is stable, that he is out of danger,” said Augustine, who has not yet been able to see him.

“ Among the 25 who died, many are cousins, nephews, schoolmates of my nephew ", he added.

Also Rosa Andrade, 69, arrived at the hospital to find out about her 10-year-old niece, injured in her legs, and still could not see her.

The tragedy brought to mind the volcanic eruption of Fire 2014, which destroyed locations in Chã das Caldeiras and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes.

In the inpatient rooms, children recover from injuries, some lying down and with bandages, while doctors and nurses follow their evolution. Despite the pain, they are awake and some react to the presence of those who pass: one of them even waved to journalists.

The Minister of Health and spokesperson of the Crisis Office, Lúcio Miranda Fernandes, corrected, in statements to Lusa, to 38 the number of injured people, less one than initially indicated, explaining that a pregnant woman was counted among the injured, but later, revealed that she was not involved in the accident.

The accident caused 25 deaths and 13 injuries, two of which were transferred to the city of Praia, one of them in a more severe clinical state, and one of them was discharged.

Still today it is planned to transfer one more child to the capital of the country for leg surgery, remaining only nine in the hospital of the island of Fire, all stable and some will be discharged in the next few hours, but may not return home.

One of the authorities' concerns is to prevent survivors from returning immediately to their homes when they are not ready.

The hospital provided a space where some could stay for a few days with family members, receiving medical care and psychological support.

“ We know that right now there are many people who will want to visit these children. They will want to ask questions that maybe they are not yet ready to answer ", explained.

More than 20 technicians, among psychologists and social technicians, were mobilized from the Beach and accompanied, from the first day, survivors, family members and people who returned home after losing loved ones.

Teams have mainly identified anxiety, depression and fear, and follow-up should be extended in the coming months, especially with the return to class.

“ We have schools that have lost 13 students,” Lúcio Miranda Fernandes said, advancing that the Ministry of Health will work with the Ministry of Education on a plan to accompany the return to classes of affected students, including the preparation of teachers to identify signs of possible psychological disturbances.