Pacaya Volcano
On the evening of 27 May, Pacaya volcano entered a phase of violent lava fountaining reaching an height of about 1 km, and an ash plume reaching about 3-4 km elevation drifting north-west towards the capital.
At least 3 people were killed in the eruption, two villagers and a journalist who tried to approach the crater and was hit by bombs. According to newspapers, at least 9 children are missing, more than 20 people injured and thousands fled their homes or were evacuated. Many buildings were damaged.
Authorities evacuated the National Park of Pacaya and nearby villages and declared the state of emergency for the region. The significant ash fall caused traffic chaos in Guatemala city and the international airp
ort to be closed.
The intensity of the explosions declined later in the evening, but scientists warn that new violent phases could follow.
On the evening of 27 May, Pacaya volcano entered a phase of violent lava fountaining reaching an height of about 1 km, and an ash plume reaching about 3-4 km elevation drifting north-west towards the capital.
At least 3 people were killed in the eruption, two villagers and a journalist who tried to approach the crater and was hit by bombs. According to newspapers, at least 9 children are missing, more than 20 people injured and thousands fled their homes or were evacuated. Many buildings were damaged.
Authorities evacuated the National Park of Pacaya and nearby villages and declared the state of emergency for the region. The significant ash fall caused traffic chaos in Guatemala city and the international airp
ort to be closed.The intensity of the explosions declined later in the evening, but scientists warn that new violent phases could follow.
Agatha Storm in Guatemala
A powerful tropical storm in Central America has left at least 99 people de
ad in floods and mudslides.
The worst-hit country was Guatemala, where officials say at least 82 people died. Nine were killed in El Salvador and at least eight in Honduras.
Storm Agatha swept in from the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, bringing torrential rains that added to disruption caused by a volcano erupting in Guatemala.
The storm is dissipating but more heavy rain is forecast for the next few days.
A state of emergency has been declared in three countries Rescue workers have been clearing debris from roads to reach cut-off communities.
Many areas have not been reached and the number of dead is expected to rise. In Guatemala, where Agatha made landfall on Saturday, at least 53 people were reported missing.
Parts of Guatemala have received their highest rainfall in more than 60 years, according to the country's President Alvaro Colom, who said more than 3ft (1m) of rain fell in some areas.
"Many places are cut off but it appears the weather will improve a bit today and we will be able to airlift supplies to those places. The road network is badly damaged," President Colom said at a news conference on Sunday.
Nearly 112,000 people have been evacuated from their homes across Guatemala, officials said.
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have all declared emergencies in an attempt to increase immediate aid and resources.
Agatha - the first named storm of the Pacific hurricane season - also hit southern Mexico.
The storm is dissipating over the mountains of western Guatemala - but emergency workers have warned residents to expect heavy rain for several more days.
A powerful tropical storm in Central America has left at least 99 people de
ad in floods and mudslides.The worst-hit country was Guatemala, where officials say at least 82 people died. Nine were killed in El Salvador and at least eight in Honduras.
Storm Agatha swept in from the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, bringing torrential rains that added to disruption caused by a volcano erupting in Guatemala.
The storm is dissipating but more heavy rain is forecast for the next few days.
A state of emergency has been declared in three countries Rescue workers have been clearing debris from roads to reach cut-off communities.
Many areas have not been reached and the number of dead is expected to rise. In Guatemala, where Agatha made landfall on Saturday, at least 53 people were reported missing.
Parts of Guatemala have received their highest rainfall in more than 60 years, according to the country's President Alvaro Colom, who said more than 3ft (1m) of rain fell in some areas.
"Many places are cut off but it appears the weather will improve a bit today and we will be able to airlift supplies to those places. The road network is badly damaged," President Colom said at a news conference on Sunday.
Nearly 112,000 people have been evacuated from their homes across Guatemala, officials said.
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have all declared emergencies in an attempt to increase immediate aid and resources.
Agatha - the first named storm of the Pacific hurricane season - also hit southern Mexico.
The storm is dissipating over the mountains of western Guatemala - but emergency workers have warned residents to expect heavy rain for several more days.
Sinking zone 2 in guatemala
Guatemalan Government's Flickr feed shows a spontaneous sinkhole ("hundimiento") 20 meters deep and 15 wide that appeared today in Zone 2 of Guatemala City, after overwhelming saturation of rains from tropical storm Agatha. Local press reports that it swallowed an entire 3-story building. Not Photoshop, sadly: these happen from time to time during major storms in part because of unstable geology, and in part, bad urban engineering—read more about it in the comments. A break in the over-stressed sewage pipes after the storm was the cause for this one. There are rumors of other sinkholes now forming nearby.
Guatemalan Government's Flickr feed shows a spontaneous sinkhole ("hundimiento") 20 meters deep and 15 wide that appeared today in Zone 2 of Guatemala City, after overwhelming saturation of rains from tropical storm Agatha. Local press reports that it swallowed an entire 3-story building. Not Photoshop, sadly: these happen from time to time during major storms in part because of unstable geology, and in part, bad urban engineering—read more about it in the comments. A break in the over-stressed sewage pipes after the storm was the cause for this one. There are rumors of other sinkholes now forming nearby.
