Death toll from Guatemala volcano eruption rises to 25

The death toll from the eruption of a highly active volcano near Guatemala's capital on Sunday rose to 25, authorities announced.

The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala (CONRED) said late Sunday at a press conference that as of 9:00 p.m. local time (0300 GMT Monday) the death toll had risen to 25, and 653 people have moved into shelters.

The CONRED also said more than 3,100 people were evacuated and an unknown number of people remained missing.

The Fuego Volcano exploded around noon local time and lava began flowing down in the afternoon.

According to a preliminary report from the CONRED, the eruption is "the strongest one recorded in recent years" and about 1.7 million people have been affected.

Sergio Garcia Cabanas, executive secretary of the CONRED, said that the village of El Rodeo is the most affected, after a "flow of volcanic material hit a house ... which left four dead."

"The village was practically buried," he said.

The Fuego Volcano, located about 50 km west of the capital, erupted twice this Sunday, the official said. The first, which occurred at around 11:00 local time (1700 GMT), generated a column of ash as high as 1 km and spaced several km away; the other, which was more intense, was at around 16:00 local time (2300 GMT).

According to the CONRED, the eruption has generated strong rumblings with waves that caused vibration in roofs and windows at a distance of 20 km.

The ash thrown by the volcano has fallen across the entire capital city of Guatemala, blanketing cars and roads.

According to a preliminary report from the CONRED, the eruption is "the strongest one recorded in recent years."

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said in a press conference that a national "orange alert" was activated in the morning. The most affected departments are Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, which have a "red alert" level.

The president also thanked the governments of Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador for their "expressions of support" and acknowledged the concern shown by the international community.

In the press conference, officials also said that the Ministry of National Defense dispatched 296 army personnel, while the government has sent 900 workers to the affected areas.

The government has advised citizens to use masks when venturing outside, to follow the instructions of disaster relief authorities, and to stay away from the volcano's vicinity as two people died while watching the eruption.

The civil aviation authority of Guatemala announced the temporary closure of operations at the Guatemala City's international airport due to the presence of volcanic ash.

The capital's La Aurora International Airport will remain closed until the safety of air operations is guaranteed.

According to volcanologists, eruption records of Fuego Volcano, one of the country's most active volcanoes, date back to 1542.

At its fiercest, the volcano could spray ash all the way to the country's southern neighbors of El Salvador and Honduras.