New Volcano Evacuations in Guatemala

Guatemalan authorities ordered fresh evacuations of rescue workers and nearby villages on Friday because of escalating activity at the Fuego volcano, which erupted this week, killing at least 109 people. Disaster agency CONRED said on Friday morning that flows accumulated in four canyons and the buildup of volcanic material could spread to other areas. The new round of evacuations came a day after search-and-rescue efforts were suspended because of hot volcanic material and concerns that rainy weather could trigger mudslides, NPR reported. Guatemala’s volcanic institute said in a Friday morning statement that ash reached heights of up to 19,700 feet in two of the canyons where flows accumulated. Rescue workers, volunteers and police who were still in the area fled to escape the flows. Rescuers previously said it would be highly unlikely they could find any survivors after 72 hours since the original eruption on Sunday. The death toll is expected to rise after a series of eruptions that started with Sunday’s giant blast, Fuego’s most violent in four decades.