Over 100 dead in Guatemala volcano eruption

GUATEMALA (Patria) - 109 people have died in the eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala, and more than 200 are reported missing, officials from the country have announced.

Rescuers have suspended the search for survivors 72 hours after the volcano erupted, BHT reports.

The state disaster agency announced that poor climatic conditions, heavy rain, and still hot volcanic material have made the search very dangerous for rescuers.

Officials state that there are slim chances of survivors in the ash, mud, and debris, AP reports.

The Prosecutor's Office in Guatemala has launched an investigation into whether the protocol was followed, considering that many residents had very little or no time to evacuate.

The eruption occurred on Sunday when the volcano, located 35 kilometers southwest of Guatemala's capital, spewed lava and ash. The volcano caused devastation in the villages on its slopes.

A strong explosion in the volcano's crater on Tuesday evening caused new panic among residents who had returned to their villages.

Rescuers, police, and the army were also forced to leave the area, and on Wednesday, they were allowed to continue the search for the missing in the so-called zero zone near the volcano.

The eruption most severely affected rural communities near the volcano and the colonial city of Antigua, the country's most significant tourist destination.

The volcano, named Volcan de Fuego, or Fire Volcano, is 3,763 meters high.

The disaster has affected a total of 1.7 million Guatemalan residents at various levels.