(CNN) Both eruptions swallowed homes and reminded everyone how ferocious nature can be.

Kilauea's volcanic eruption, left, and Guatemala's Fuego eruption

Here's why these eruptions are so different -- and why they have drastically different death tolls:

Lava vs. pyroclastic flow

Kilauea's primary mode of destruction is lava, but Fuego has unleashed pyroclastic flow -- a nasty mix of ash, rock and volcanic gases that can be much more dangerous than lava.

Read More