GUATEMALA’S disaster agency has confirmed at least six people are dead or have “disappeared” in an volcano eruption on Sunday.
Sergio Cabanas, the general secretary of Guatemala’s Conred disaster agency said: “It’s a river of lava that overflowed its banks and affected the Rodeo village.
“There are injured, burned and dead people.
“We are evacuating and rescuing people and have reports of 20 wounded, six dead and disappeared.”
Consuelo Hernandez told local news outlet Diario de Centroamerica: “Not everyone escaped, I think they were buried.”
Steaming lava flowed down the streets of a village as emergency crews entered homes in search of trapped residents, another local media site reported.
The eruption forced the Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport to shut down its only runway due to the presence of volcanic ash, according to Guatemala’s civil aviation authority.
The volcano is located 25 miles (40km) southwest of the capital Guatemala City.
It is also close to the colonial city of Antigua, popular with tourists and known for its coffee plantations.
President Jimmy Morales scheduled a news conference later in the evening.
Officials asked residents to remain calm.
David de Leon, spokesman for the National Disaster Prevention Authority said a change in wind was to blame for the volcanic ash falling on parts of the capital.
