Guatemala volcano explodes

Guatemala's Fuego volcano, which erupted on June 3 killing 165 people, recorded a strong new explosion accompanied by avalanches around the crater, authorities said.

According to the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology, the explosion occurred at around 9.20 p.m. and was the first strong volcanic activity in the last six weeks, reports Efe news.

The explosion was accompanied by rumblings and shock waves as the volcano ejected "abundant incandescent material" to a height of 4,800 metres and blew out a column of ash that moved 12 km westward.

"This explosion is the first strong one to be recorded in the last six weeks and may be the beginning of another phase of activity," the institute warned.

The 3,763-metre-high volcano is located around 50 km west of the Guatemalan capital.

The June eruption was one of the biggest in its history. It also left 260 missing and almost two million people affected.

--IANS

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