Eruption kills at least two, causes damage

Excerpts from the Associated Press story on today's eruption:

A volcano in western El Salvador erupted on Saturday, sending a column of ash 50,000 feet into the air and killing two farmers buried by chunks of earth and boiling water that tumbled down the slopes....

Emergency response officials said two farmers from Palo Campana died after being buried by massive chunks of earth and boiling water that tumbled down the side of Ilamatepec following the eruption. Two other residents of this coffee-growing town were missing.

The ground was smoldering when soldiers arrived to assist in the evacuations. Falling ash had destroyed coffee crops and damaged trees in surrounding forests.

Small bodies of water were steaming and bubbling from the heat and ash covered the ground as far as the eye could see. Problems with landslides worsened as afternoon rains pelted the area

El Diario de Hoy has extensive coverage, including photo galleries, at this link.