(4 Jun 2018) The charred landscape left behind by Guatemala's erupting Volcano of Fire was still too hot in many places Monday to pull out bodies so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues.
First-responders in helicopters managed to pull at least 10 people alive from the ash drifts and mud as the death toll rose to 33 and was expected to go much higher.
Ash was piled up to the rooflines of some homes and rescuers used sledgehammers to break through the roofs of some completely buried houses to see if anyone was trapped inside.
Residents of El Rodeo, about 8 miles (12 kilometres) downslope from the crater, said they were caught unaware by the fast-moving hot ash and rock when the volcano west of Guatemala City exploded Sunday, sending towering clouds into the air.
Heavily armed soldiers wearing blue masks to ward off the dust stood guard behind yellow tape cordoning off the scene as orange-helmeted workers operated a backhoe in El Rodeo. A group of residents arrived at the scene with shovels and work boots.
Ash from the volcano, which lies about 27 miles (44 kilometres) west of Guatemala City, fell on the capital area as well as the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla.
Streets and houses were covered in the colonial town of Antigua, a popular tourist destination.
Aviation authorities closed Guatemala City's international airport because of the danger posed to planes, but the airport was reopened at mid-morning Monday after workers cleared away ash.
One of Central America's most active volcanos, the conical Volcan de Fuego reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet (3,763 metres) above sea level at its peak.

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