Situation is Serious, Says
Guatemalan President
GUATEMALA - Guatemalan President Alvaro
Colom described the situation regarding the
Pacaya volcano eruption as extremely
serious.
At the headquarters of the National
Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, Colom
gave details of measures taken regarding the
emergency declared in the departments of
Guatemala, Sacatepequez and Escuintla.
He talked about the general mobilization of
state institutions, including the army and
police to crate contingency committees to
work in confronting the consequences of that
disaster, still in development.
He praised the good response from the people
and relief agencies to government
exhortations, especially because they
devoted rapidly to sweep the accumulated
volcanic sand, mainly in the capital. Colom
announced the organization of a truck
caravan to evacuate the ashes in bags to
prevent it from entering into drains of all
types and causing major problems.
He referred to reports received from places
near the volcano, many houses the roofs of
which are in danger of collapse because of
the large amount of this material piled up
on them.
The President regretted the death of
Notisiete reporter Anibal Archila after
being hit by large numbers of incandescent
stones thrown by the violent explosion.
He informed that there are three children
missing in the area of the disaster and
counted 59 wounded so far, none of them
seriously.
He said La Aurota International Airport will
remain closed until completion of cleaning
in all areas because in a similar situation
just a few years ago the first plane to take
off had serious difficulties.
The President called on all Guatemalans to
work in harmony and solidarity to overcome
this emergency as soon as possible.
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