Pacaya Volcano Erupts In
Guatemala
GUATEMALA - Guatemalan President Alvaro
Colom called for calm as a volcanic eruption
spread ash over the capital city, prompting
evacuations and shutting down the city's
international airport.
At least least one person, a reporter for
CNN affiliate Noti 7, has died as a result
of the eruption. The TV station announced
early Friday that reporter Anibal Archila
was killed when he was hit by debris from
the volcano.
Four people were missing as evacuations
continued, the president said.
At least 1,800 people have been placed in
shelters after four villages near the
volcano were evacuated, said David de Leon,
a spokesman for the national disaster
commission.
Pacaya volcano, located about 25 km
(15 miles) south of Guatemala City, began
spewing ash and soot about 7 p.m. (9 p.m.
ET) Thursday.
The runway at La Aurora International
Airport - the third busiest airport in
Central America in terms of passenger
traffic - was covered with two inches of ash
and will be closed Friday, Colom said.
About 25 percent of the airport's daily
flights had to be diverted to alternative
airports after La Aurora was closed around
7:30 p.m., said Monica Monje with Civil
Aeronautics.
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