Guatemala Death Toll Now At 114

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 13, 2018: The death toll from the June 3rd eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala is now at 114, a week later.

The new death tolls comes as Guatemalan officials said Wednesday that poor communication between the government and volcano experts may have led to the delayed evacuation during the eruption of Fuego Volcano.

The Guatemalan government said it will carry out an investigation to see whether proper protocols were followed in the handling of the disaster.

Conred national disaster coordinator brigades, firefighters, army troops and international experts, aided by surviving local residents, entered so-called “Ground Zero” on Monday in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes, in Escuintla province, which was buried under volcanic ash and devastated by pyroclastic flows, EFE News reported.

Using picks and other tools, along with some heavy machinery, recovery brigades found the four bodies in the ruins of the village and under the tones of volcanic material.

“At present the volcano has stopped erupting. We are still in a state of alert and closely observing the condition of the volcano. Because the information is limited, so far we could not assess the direct damage caused by this eruption. We are quite worried because now it is winter and the weather is rainy,” CCTV  quoted Mayra Piñera, representative of the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction, as saying.

In Guatemala’s National Forensic Sciences Institute, a large group of residents can be seen gathering at its gate, waiting for the latest information about their missing relatives.

“I am waiting for the information about my dear family. Though I may only get their remains, I can bury them and present flowers in front of their tombs,” resident Marta was quoted by CCTV as saying.

“They have found the remains of my aunt. She was with my cousins. All of them died in the disaster. We have got six donated urns, but are still in short of two,” said another resident Victor.

The eruption is believed to be the strongest one recorded in the last four decades.

HOW TO HELP IN MIAMI

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and the mayors of municipalities located in Miami-Dade District 12 are joining forces to collect donations and provide relief for victims of the deadly volcanic eruption in Guatemala.

Requested items include masks, canned food, juices, antibiotics, disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, infant and adult diapers, medicines for respiratory infections, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, brushes, toothpaste, first aid kits and painkillers.
The drop-off locations in Miami-Dade are:

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz office
8345 NW 12th Street in Doral
From Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Doral
8401 NW 53rd Terrace, Doral, FL, 33166
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Morgan Levy Park

5300 NW 102nd Avenue
Doral, FL 33178
Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

City of Hialeah

Goodlet Park
4200 West 8th Ave.
Hialeah, FL, 33012
Monday-Friday
1:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to noon
Sunday 2 to 5 p.m.

City of Hialeah Gardens

Westland Gardens Park
13501 NW 107th Ave.
Hialeah Gardens, FL, 33018
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Town of Medley

7777 NW 72nd Ave.
Medley, FL, 33166
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday noon to 4pm

City of Sweetwater

Jorge Mas Canosa Park
250 SW 114th Ave.
Sweetwater, FL, 33174
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Village of Virginia Gardens

6498 NW 38th Terrace
Virginia Gardens, FL, 33166
Monday-Sunday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.