(Image source from: Free America Network)

Rescuers proceed to hunt for survivors and victims of Fuego volcano's calamitous eruption in Guatemala, country in Central America that has killed at least 99 people.

The volcano, Volcan de Fuego exploded on Sunday in Guatemala in the most ruinous way in more than four decades showering ash on a broad area and causing speedy pyroclastic flows through nearby towns.

The deep ash miles have rained down on nearby towns and volcanic rock blanketed the tiny hamlet of San Miguel Los Lotes with only roofs of few homes sticking out.

The death toll has been raised to at least 99, up from 85 as infromed by the Central American country's disaster and forensic agency INACIF (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses de Guatemala) on Wednesday afternoon.

"We can only work in places where we can stand on the roofs of houses, because the ash is very hot. There are places where you stick the pickaxe or rod in and we see a lot of smoke coming out and fire and it's impossible to keep digging because we could die," said 25-year-old rescuer Diego Lorenzana.

Guatemala's national disaster management agency, CONRED, said 1.7 million people have been affected by the volcanic eruption and over 12,000 have been evacuated.

Distributing humanitarian aid, including clean drinking water to victims were also managed by the volunteers at the affected areas.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said they have released more than 250,000 Swiss francs ($253,446) from its global emergency fund to support frontline emergency efforts.

These funds will help "Guatemala Red Cross support 3,000 of the most vulnerable survivors for three months," they added.

The 12,346 feet or 3,736 meter Volcan de Fuego, which means volcano of fire is one of the various active volcanoes in the Central American Country among 34. It lies close to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site that has survived major eruptions.

By Sowmya Sangam