The search for survivors from deadly eruptions of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has been temporarily suspended due to dangerous conditions for rescue workers.

A spokesman for Guatemala’s national disaster management agency, CONRED, warned residents to stay away from the still-dangerous area.

The death toll from Fuego’s most violent eruption in four decades has been gradually rising. The Central American country’s disaster and forensic agency Inacif said on Friday it stood at 109.

Authorities have admitted that a communication breakdown between CONRED and volcanologists in Guatemala delayed evacuations from the surrounding area.

Guatemala’s public prosecutor said on Thursday it would open an investigation into whether protocols were followed to inform proper decision-making in the handling of the disaster.

Rescue teams have been searching frantically for survivors and victims in the lava-ravaged landscape.

Guatemala Volcano Eruptions:
– At least 109 dead after Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala
– Nearly 200 people are still missing
Drone footage shows villages covered in ash: pic.twitter.com/isiyJsZJjS

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) June 8, 2018

For nearly a week, the eruptions showered volcanic ash over nearby towns and spewed pyroclastic flows throughout the area.

The US government expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victims and said it was sending emergency aid at Guatemala’s request. It include an unspecified amount of financial resources to help with food, water, and sanitation.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies raised concerns about the economic cost of the disaster in the poor Central American country.

“We should not underestimate the scale of this disaster. Critical, emergency needs are still enormous, and affected communities will need sustained and long-term support,” IFRC President Francesco Rocca said on Thursday.

The suspension of rescue efforts around the volcano might be lifted if conditions on the ground improve, CONRED said.

Fuego, or “Fire” in Spanish, is about 40 kilometres south-west of the capital, Guatemala City. It is near the picturesque colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The 3763-metre peak is one of several active volcanoes among 34 in Guatemala.

-AAP