The Costa Rican embassy in Guatemala is reporting that no Costa Ricans have been injured or killed as a result of a powerful eruption of the Pacaya volcano Thursday night.
Guatemala´s main airport, La Aurora International in Guatemala City, has been shut down while at least two people are reported dead as a result of the eruption. Nearly 69,000 have been evacuated from the area around the volcano, which lies 20 miles to the south of the capital.
The situation has been complicated by an intense tropical storm that has caused flooding in the country. As of Sunday, 13 were reported dead and 24 missing as a result of the storm.
“The two emergencies are a test (of our emergency system) and as of today, the system is functioning well,” said Alvaro Colom, Guatemalan President, via a video posted on the government’s Website.
The Costa Rican embassy in Guatemala has received calls from relatives looking for their family members, some who were visiting the country as tourists.
“The capital awoke in clouds as a result of sand and ash from the eruption,” said Costa Rican Ambassador Lidiette Brenes on Friday. “We have been in contact with the group of Costa Ricans that reside in Guatemala via phone calls, e-mail and a site opened on Facebook.com, which we try to update as new information emerges.”
