The Fuego volcano in Guatemala killed 69 people in a day. The death toll is growing

On Sunday, June 3, Guatemala experienced the most powerful volcanic eruption in recent years. Pillars of dust and dirt suddenly burst out of the Fuego volcano (translated as "fire") and buried settlements under them. It is already known about 69 dead, dozens of people are missing. Rescue services are working in an emergency mode, pulling people out from under the rubble and ashes.

During the 16-hour eruption, villages on the slope of the volcano were completely buried under rocks, mud and ash. Pyroclastic flows (a mixture of volcanic gases, ash and rocks of incredibly high temperatures) poured down the slope towards nearby settlements, killing all life in their path and bricking people in their homes.

President Jimmy Morales declared three days of national mourning.

(Careful! The material presented in the collection may seem unpleasant or frightening.)

Source: Daiy Mail

A policeman tries to get to his feet in a cloud of ash to escape from pyroclastic flows. The eruption of the volcano occurred suddenly, and the inhabitants of the settlements were completely unprepared for it.

So far, the Guatemalan authorities have announced 69 dead, but only 17 bodies are known, whose identity has been identified. Due to the high temperatures of volcanic emissions, most bodies are found almost unrecognizable. There are children among the dead.

Rescue teams are working with shovels and excavators on the still smoldering area where the sole of the shoe is melting.

While rescuers are fighting for every life, thousands of people are mourning those who could not be saved.

Fast-moving pyroclastic flows, the temperature of which reached 700 degrees Celsius, caught people in their homes. And hot ash and volcanic gases caused rapid suffocation. Lava and rocks mixed with water and debris, blocked roads and houses.

Even the next day, Monday, in some areas the heat was too strong to pull out the bodies of the dead, like statues because of the thick layer of ash.

Volunteer firefighters carry coffins with children who died during the eruption in the department of Zacatepequese to the morgue.

Rescuers, overcoming dangers and difficulties, go from house to house in search of survivors.

Fuego Volcano.

The deceased is lying on the street.

Locals bury a 6-year-old girl.

A girl carries flowers to the cemetery where seven people who died during the eruption will be buried.

Aerial view on Monday morning.

The city of Escuintla.

Thousands of people were evacuated and placed in temporary shelters. In the photo, people are sleeping on the floor in the church.

The consequences of the disaster affected 1.7 million residents of Guatemala, which is 10 percent of the country's population.