Pope Francis is mourning the victims of Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire eruption and sending his prayers for their families and the rescue crews trying to help survivors.
The Latest on the eruption of Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire (all times local):
8:05 a.m.
Pope Francis is mourning the victims of Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire eruption and sending his prayers for their families and the rescue crews trying to help survivors.
Francis sent a telegram of condolence Tuesday, saying he was “profoundly sorry” to learn of the high toll. He said he wanted to express his “consolation to families who are weeping for the loss of their loved ones, as well as spiritual closeness to the wounded and those who are working to help.”
Guatemalan authorities put the death toll at 69, but officials said just 17 had been identified so far because the intense heat of the volcanic debris flows left most bodies unrecognizable.
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7:20 a.m.
Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire is continuing to burst out rocks and ash, nearly two days after a major eruption that killed at least 69 people.
The country’s volcanology and meteorology institute says the volcano has been experiencing eight to 10 moderate explosions per hour Tuesday morning, though the scale of the activity is far lower than that of Sunday.
That eruption caught residents of remote mountain hamlets off guard, with little or no time to flee to safety.
The volcano has been in eruption since 2002.
