Post date: Nov 24, 2012 2:32:24 PM
Tiny French village in the foothills of the Pyrenees to ramp up security ... in preparation for the end of the world.
BUGARACH, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 23, 2012) (REUTERS) - The small village of Bugarach in south west France close to the Pyrenees mountain range with a population of just 200 is bracing itself for the arrival of hundreds if not thousands of esoteric groups and doomsday followers who think the mountain over the village has magic power.
According to some interpretation of the Mayan calendar, the end of the world is scheduled for the December 21st this year.But new agers and self-styled gurus who have spread speculation about the imminent end of the world on the internet believe the village of Bugarach will survive.
They are convinced UFOs will rescue them and may even be inside the mountain top ready to take them to safety.
Speculation has spread widely on the internet and while the French authorities think the scenario is ridiculous, they are taking the situation very seriously.
Over a hundred gendarmes will seal off the village from the 19th of December through the 23rd to keep out any doomsday groups planning to head to the mountain top.
The mayor of Bugarach said he needs the police to guarantee the village's safety as he fears the arrival of cults as the dreaded day arrives.
He told Reuters television that anyone thinking of making the trek to the village on December 21 to not even think about it as there will be no space ships just lots of police officers to keep them back.
"My message is very simple. I am telling people don't come here to Bugarach for a simple reason there will be nothing to see here. So I insist don't come here, especially as there will mainly be the police here," he said.
In the nearby town of Carcassone, the Prefect, the Government's man in the region, said he was planning for every eventuality.
"Taking into account the huge media interest this affair has created we have to take into account all security concerns and be prepared for all outcomes whether there are 300 people or 3 thousand," said Eric Freysselinard.
In the village itself, most residents preferred to keep behind closed doors and are waiting for the end of December to arrive so they can get back to enjoying the reasons they first moved to Bugarach, the beauty, peace and quiet.
Rubbish collector Jean-Luc Billard said he was doubtful that extra terrestrials would be coming to pluck survivors to safety.
"I think its a big of nonsense I don't think there are UFOs within the Bugarach mountain," he said.
Others were just waiting for the date, and the craze, to pass.
"Holiday visitors in some respects have been put off by the publicity. They don't want to come to a place where they think they will be accosted by strange people in the streets. They come here for the peace and quiet, beauty and tranquility and so on and they don't want other things happening," said Valerie Austin, a local resident.
As for the black cat seen wandering the streets of the tiny village, locals said he was simply the local moggy, not an omen of things to come.