News Release

Latter-day Saints Assist in Guatemalan Relief Efforts

Hundreds evacuated following volcano eruption

Latter-day Saint volunteers are helping with relief efforts in Central America following Sunday’s eruption of Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano, located 25 miles southwest of Guatemala City. All members and missionaries are safe, but hundreds of people were evacuated as ash was dispersed over a nine-mile radius. More than 60 people were killed, with additional people missing. At least five Latter-day Saints were taken to the hospital with severe burns.

 

More than 100 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers have gathered at a collection center with other organizations to help distribute food and other supplies to displaced residents. Thousands of people are staying in shelters, which includes the Las Palmas meetinghouse where nearly 100 people from the community are being temporarily housed. Another meetinghouse is being used for the collection, storage and distribution of food and supplies. 

There are more than 272,000 Latter-day Saints in 440 congregations and six missions in Guatemala.

For more information, visit the Guatemala Newsroom (Spanish).

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