Guatemala volcano eruption, death toll rises to 65

The death toll from an eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano has risen to more than 60 people, while rescuers pulled more people alive from ash drifts and mud flows.

A man cries after reaching his neighborhood near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala. Source: AP

Police officers in Guatemala have filmed as ash overran their vehicle as they attempted to escape the deadly volcano eruption.

Rescue workers pulled more bodies Monday from under the dust and rubble left by an explosive eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano, bringing the death toll to at least 65.

Disaster Relief Agency spokesman David de Leon told a briefing that after hours of searching for survivors, the number of dead had hit at least 65.

In addition, there are 46 people injured, most of them seriously, more than 1.7 million being hit by the disaster, including 3,271 ordered evacuated and 1,787 in shelters in the departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango since Sunday's eruption.

A man runs as a new wave of lava hits the community of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla, Guatemala. Source: Getty Images

The 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano erupted early Sunday, spewing out towering plumes of ash and a hail of fiery rock fragments with scalding mud.

Authorities had warned the death toll could rise after searches resumed for survivors in communities on the mountain's southern flank.