Death toll of Guatemala's volcano eruption rises to 69

EL RODEO, Guatemala - Guatemalan authorities have increased the confirmed death toll from the eruption of the Fuego Volcano to 69 as officials suspended the search until dawn on Tuesday.

Fanuel Garcia is the director of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences and he announced the higher death toll late Monday. He said only 17 of the dead have been identified so far.

The burning ash and mud that engulfed villages on the volcano's flanks Sunday left many victims unrecognizable. They will have to be identified through DNA testing or other means.

A lack of electricity in the most heavily hit zone makes safely searching at night impossible.

AP