The threat of fresh landslides forced emergency workers Thursday to suspend a search for victims of a major eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano, the country's disaster management agency said.

Still-hot volcanic material and the threat of heavy rains displacing loose deposits were posing a serious risk to the safety of emergency workers, said agency spokesman David de Leon.

To date, 99 people are known to have died in Sunday's major eruption of the volcano, with nearly 200 more still reported as missing.

"We should not underestimate the scale of the disaster," International Red Cross chief Francesco Rocca said after visiting the area.

"Critical emergency needs are still enormous, and affected communities will need sustained and long-term support," Rocca said, adding that for the worst affected families, recovery would take at least a year.

"These people have lost everything -- homes, livelihoods and tragically, loved ones."

The White House said the US was sending emergency aid "to help meet food, water and sanitation needs for the affected population."

An American military plane has already transported some burn victims to the US for specialized treatment, the US Air Force said.

Mexico announced it was sending a team of burn specialists while Chile said it would send equipment to provide an early warning of volcanic eruptions.

A team of Cuban doctors resident in Guatemala were providing support in shelters for the displaced.

burs/ec/db/sst

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Hundreds of homes destroyed by volcano lava in Hawaii
Los Angeles (AFP) June 6, 2018
Hundreds of oceanfront homes have been destroyed by lava flow from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, officials said Tuesday. "We lost hundreds of homes in Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland overnight, but we don't have exact figures," Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County, told AFP. She said the lost homes were in addition to 117 others destroyed since the volcano began erupting on May 3, forcing the evacuation of 2,500 people. The latest two communities affected by the lava flow had been or ... read more