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 national disaster management agency CONRED warned residents to stay away from the still-dangerous area.
Dangerous weather and ground conditions have forced rescuers to pause work at the Fuego volcano. (AAP)
The death toll from Fuego's most violent eruption in four decades has been gradually rising and the Central American country's disaster and forensic agency Inacif says it now stands 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.
Beginning Sunday, 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, including an unspecified amount of financial resources to help with food, water, and sanitation.
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) 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 in a statement on Thursday.
The suspension of rescue efforts around the volcano may be lifted if conditions on the ground improve, CONRED said.
Fuego, or "Fire" in Spanish, lies about 40 km southwest of the capital, Guatemala City, near the picturesque colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The 3,763-metre peak is one of several active volcanoes among 34 in Guatemala.
