Guatemala warns of greater activity after volcano explodes again
A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in El Rodeo, June 3, 2018. REUTERS/Fabricio Alonzo
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemalan authorities warned that the Fuego volcano was showing signs of greater activity on Tuesday night as the death toll from a devastating eruption at the weekend climbed to 75 and nearly 200 people remained missing.
The seismological, volcanic and meteorological institute Insivumeh heightened its warnings after the volcano erupted again earlier on Tuesday, forcing evacuations and sending rescue workers scrambling for cover.
The peak had its most devastating eruption in more than four decades on Sunday, showering ash on a wide area and sending lava flows through nearby towns.
A road sign covered with ash is seen after Fuego volcano erupted in Escuintla, June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria
The national disaster agency, CONRED, said 192 people remained missing after the disaster and the forensic agency, Inacif, raised the death toll to at least 75, up from 72.
"The conditions are extremely critical at this moment," Insivumeh Director Eddy Sánchez told reporters.
Volcan de Fuego, which means "Volcano of Fire" in Spanish, is one of several active volcanoes among 34 in the Central American country. It lies near the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site that has survived several major eruptions.
Firefighters hold rescued animals at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The latest activity has been mostly on the far side of the volcano, facing the Pacific coast.
The eruption on Sunday sent columns of ash and smoke 6.2 miles (10 km) into the sky, dusting several regions with ash. Thousands of people have been evacuated, CONRED said.
A man covered with ash after the eruption of the Fuego volcano, is seen at an area affected in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Dave Graham and Julia Love; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Sandra Maler and Paul Tait)
A man carries personal stuff at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYA sign on a widow covered with ash is seen at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaA rescue worker stands on the perimeter of an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano at El Rodeo in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYA man covers his face as he carries stuff at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaA solider stands guard on a truck near to Fuego volcano, in Alotenango, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jose CabezasRescue workers remove ash at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaPolicemen inspect at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaA firefighter measures the temperature of the soil at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano at El Rodeo in Escuintla, June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jose CabezasSoldiers inspect an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaSoldiers inspect an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaDisplaced people take a break as they leave an area affected by the eruption of Fuego volcano in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaDisplaced people travel on a motorcycle from an area affected by the eruption of Fuego volcano in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaMembers of the Guatemala's National Disaster Management Agency (CONRED) prepare to continue the search for bodies at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano at El Rodeo in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jose CabezasA soldier walks at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis EcheverriaPolicemen walk along a street at an area affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
