At least 65 die in Guatemala's 'Volcano of Fire'
At least 65 people, including several children, have died after the most violent volcanic eruption in Guatemala in more than a century, authorities said.
The Volcan de Fuego, Spanish for "Volcano of Fire," erupted Sunday and released a five-mile stream of lava, a pyroclastic cloud and ash that fell over nearby Guatemala City, the country's capital.
The latest numbers from Guatemala's Health Ministry report 65 people dead.
There have been 3,265 people evacuated and at least 46 injured because of the eruption, according to the country's disaster agency. The airport also was temporarily closed because of the floating hot ash.
Officials reportedly advised residents to wear masks to protect against ash still in the air.
Smaller villages closer to the volcano were severely affected. Rivers of lava poured into several villages, with media reports showing images of charred bodies and injured residents covered in ash.
Rescuers were using shovels and heavy machinery this morning to find bodies of some of the victims, The Associated Press reported. Some survivors were rescued using helicopters to reach areas that were threatened by lava or covered in thick layers of ash and mud.
One woman who narrowly escaped from a lava flow told news outlet Diario de Centroamerica, "Not everyone escaped. I think they were buried."
Footage showed rescue teams working in darkness trying to enter homes to look for trapped residents, particularly the elderly.
Volcan de Fuego's eruption is the biggest in Guatemala since 1902, when the Santa Maria volcano erupted and killed thousands .
President Jimmy Morales said he was convening his ministers and considering declaring a state of emergency in several of the affected areas.
Volcano erupts in Guatemala burying towns in ash and lava
Volcano erupts in Guatemala burying towns in ash and lava
Officials warned that the eruption still poses a risk, especially given the possibility of continued pyroclastic flows.
