Several Dead and Missing After Explosive Volcano Eruption In Guatemala

At least six people are dead and dozens have been injured after the Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala experienced an explosive eruption, sending rocks and ash 6 miles into the air – blanketing nearby villages and sparking an exodus of at least 2,000 people from affected regions. 

Breathtaking. Unconfirmed fatalities. #Guatemala #VolcanDeFuego pic.twitter.com/cFb8aEPtKw

— Lino Miani…Unofficial (@meanlin1) June 3, 2018

#VolcandeFuego #NaturalezaImplacable @ClimaenGuate @AztecaNoticiaGT @EmisorasUnidas pic.twitter.com/6t58rjVJyl

— Ricardo Bianchi (@ricardoebianchi) June 3, 2018

Guatemala City’s La Aurora international airport closed its only runway due to volcanic ash, while emergency crews in search of trapped residents found were forced to dodge streaming lava flowing down the streets of a village near the eruption.  

WTF… This is what people in #Guatemala saw after the Fuego volcano erupted less than an hour ago.

Deaths have already been reported. pic.twitter.com/9DbToOQl5z

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 3, 2018

The volcano is located around 25 miles southwest of Guatemala City, close to the popular tourist destination of Antigua. 

Workers and guests were evacuated from the La Reunion golf club near Antigua. Video footage showed a black cloud of ash rising from just beyond the golf club. The lava river was running on the other side of the volcano. –Reuters

Received troubling photos from family in Guatemala. Volcano #enfuego @wfaaweather #nature #eruption actual source of photos unknown pic.twitter.com/R0nDUQz4ee

— JoJoHerda (@JoJoHerda) June 3, 2018

Circulando x wapp la erupción desde el club de Golf La Reunión pic.twitter.com/5EKjzQ4nyz

— Luis Fernando (@LuiUrbina) June 3, 2018

The huge plumes of smoke that could be seen from various parts of the country and the ash that fell in four of Guatemala’s departments caused alarm among residents. 

Wow! El Volcán de Fuego this afternoon. #Guatemala pic.twitter.com/8Zuad8DgrZ

— Lino Miani…Unofficial (@meanlin1) June 3, 2018

President Jimmy Morales said a national emergency response was underway, while the head of the National Disaster Prevention Authority, Sergio Cabañas, told a local radio station that a river of lava had changed course and threatened a nearby town. 

#URGENTE ((video)) Inpresionante bajada de lahar por erupción del #VolcánDeFuego @ConredGuatemala @prensa_libre @PublinewsGT @TN23NOTICIAS @Noti7Guatemala @ClimaenGuate @AlertaGt502 @susanamorazan @GladysR_gtv @Guatevision_tv pic.twitter.com/mVEkPn28IR

— Pampichí News (@PampichiNews) June 3, 2018

“It’s a river of lava that overflowed its banks and affected the Rodeo village. There are injured, burned and dead people,” said Cabañas. “We are evacuating and rescuing people and have reports of 20 wounded, six dead and disappeared.” 

“It’s raining sand.” #Volcano #eruption #Guatemala pic.twitter.com/dmMTFmiyKU

— Kawasook (@kawasook) June 3, 2018

#VolcándeFuego #VolcandeFuego #Lava #Guatemala This from a relative in Guate this afternoon. #Volcano pic.twitter.com/d3jBiP2FA2

— Aldo Cardoza (@FamCardoza) June 4, 2018

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