UP

Rescue work at Guatemala volcano interrupted, death toll hits 100

Home page World
12 Punto 14 Punto 16 Punto 18 Punto

The search for survivors from deadly eruptions of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano was temporarily suspended on Thursday due to dangerous conditions for rescue workers, as the death toll from the disaster reached 100, authorities said, Axar.az reports quoting Reuters.

Residents should stay away from the still-dangerous area, said David de Leon, a spokesman for national disaster management agency CONRED.

The toll of dead from a series of eruptions that began on Sunday has been gradually rising and now stands at 100, police said.

Rescue teams have been searching frantically for survivors and victims in the lava-ravaged landscape. The violent eruptions showered volcanic ash over nearby towns and spewed pyroclastic flows throughout the area.

The U.S. government expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victims on Thursday and said it was sending emergency aid at Guatemala’s request, including an unspecified amount of financial resources to help meet food, water, and sanitation needs.

The White House said in a statement that it was also dispatching aircraft to transport burn victims for treatment in Florida.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) raised concerns about the economic cost of the disaster in the poor Central American country.

“We should not underestimate the scale of this disaster. Critical, emergency needs are still enormous, and affected communities will need sustained and long-term support,” IFRC president Francesco Rocca said in a statement on Thursday.

Rocca noted that ash had fallen across more than half of Guatemala, covering areas where agriculture is crucial.

“We hope it will not mean a secondary disaster,” he said.

The IFRC has pledged more than 250,000 Swiss francs ($253,000) to support rescue efforts, and said those worst hit would need at least a year to recover.

The suspension of rescue efforts around the volcano may be lifted if conditions on the ground improve, CONRED said.

Fuego, or “Fire” in Spanish, lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of the capital, Guatemala City, near the picturesque colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The 3,763-meter (12,346-feet) peak is one of several active volcanoes among 34 in Guatemala

Date
2018.06.07 / 22:25
Author
Axar.az
See also

The Eiffel Tower is closed to visitors

Top Iranian general praises Russia’s support in 12-day war

UK arrests 3 on suspicion of helping Russian spy services

Deputy head of Russia’s presidential administration resigns

Polish defense minister arrives in Kyiv

Israel declared ‘Iron Beam’ interception system operational

IOC rejects Spanish calls to bar Israel

Camilla and Melania wear Ukraine colors

Ukraine reports Russian losses on Day 1303

Kyrgyzstan renames Jalal-Abad to Manas

Latest
Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla
Bize yazin Bağla
ArxivBağla