What did people do when mount pelee erupted?

When Mount Pelée erupted in May 1902, the inhabitants of Saint-Pierre, Martinique, initially ignored warnings and the growing signs of volcanic activity. Many residents stayed in the town, believing it was safe, while others attempted to flee. The eruption unleashed a devastating pyroclastic flow, destroying the town and killing approximately 30,000 people within minutes. Those who escaped did so by fleeing to the nearby hills or by sea, but the majority were caught off guard by the ferocity of the eruption.