One of Central America’s most active volcanoes erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock yesterday, killing at least six people and injuring 20 while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash.
National Coordinator Disaster Reduction Sergio Cabanas said an undetermined number of people were missing following the eruption of the Volcan de Fuego, Spanish for “volcano of fire”, which lies 44 kilometres (27 miles) from Guatemala City.
Cabanas said four people, including a disaster agency official, died when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, and two children were burned to death as they watched the volcano’s second eruption this year from a bridge.
David de Leon, spokesman for the disaster agency, said about 300 people evacuated areas near the volcano.
Fiery clouds of smoke were billowing from the Volcan del Fuego and that soot blanketed cars and houses in the nearby villages of San Pedro Yepocapa and Sangre de Cristo.
Ash was falling on the Guatemala City area as well as the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, which are in south-central Guatemala around the volcano. Streets and houses were covered in the colonial town of Antigua, a popular tourist destination.
Source: Jamaica Observer
