Science

It’s Not the Lava That Made Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano Eruption So Deadly

450 MPH

You can run away from lava, but pyroclastic density currents—composed of toxic chemicals, 1,000 degree Celsius gases, rocks, and ash—are the volcanic version of an avalanche.

180604-Fuego-Volcano-tease_ofbmfv
Luis Echeverria/Reuters

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.