Fire volcano in Guatemala erupts

A national disaster preparedness official in Guatemala says the Fire Volcano has exploded, spewing incandescent rock and ash that dusted surrounding communities. Spokesman David de Leon says authorities put the southern Guatemala area on alert, though no evacuations have been made so far. Karina Lopez, a resident of nearby Antigua, said Saturday that ash mixed with a drizzle to reduce visibility and that the rumblings continued. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction issued instructions urging people to take shelter, wear masks, cover water tanks and be aware of evacuation routes. Firefighters were standing by. The volcano sits on the border of the Guatemalan states of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango. It has a height of 3,763 meters above sea level. -The Hindu