A massive volcanic mountain in Guatemala known quite literally as the Volcano of Fire has brought utter disaster and ruin to the small and impoverished Central American nation.
That volcano erupted for more than 16 hours on Sunday and is believed to responsible for the deaths of at least 69 people thus far, though that toll will likely increase dramatically.
Volcan de Fuego eruption which thousands of people hike every year several deaths and thousands of injured and evacuated. Guatemala City. pic.twitter.com/VwczhwZUGl
— Ángel (@noise_isnice) June 4, 2018
According to CBS News, the Volcan de Fuego shot molten lava, rocks and superheated gases into the air for hours on end, sending ash as far as 40 miles away from the site of the eruption.
Well more than 3,000 people have already been evacuated from the area around the base of the volcano and dozens of wounded are being treated for their injuries.
Reportedly even several small villages around the mountain have been completely wiped out.
Volcano eruption in #Guatemala 🇬🇹 , footage from survivors fleeing as cloud of ash and fire sweeps rapidly behind them. #VolcánDeFuego 🌋 pic.twitter.com/pyuSYMTFz5
— Anonymous 🌐 (@YourAnonCentral) June 4, 2018
The eruption not only spewed untold amounts of toxic gas and smothering ash into the sky but also triggered mud slides and featured what are known as pyroclastic flows, a mixture of various gases and molten volcanic matter.
Dozens of people either burned to death or were suffocated by the thick ashen air before rescuers were able to reach them.
Thankfully, thousands of others were guided to safety or fled on their own prior to their villages being buried by ash and mud so hot that it was reportedly melting people’s shoes.
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As of now, the volcano has already destroyed at least one highway bridge and buried a beautiful and popular golf course beneath ash and mud.
The volcano is located about 25 miles southwest of the nation’s capital of Guatemala City, and it is unclear how much damage residents of that city now face. Hopefully they will remain safe.