Numerous residents residing on the slopes of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano have been compelled to leave their homes following a significant eruption that released both lava and substantial ash clouds.
The most active volcano in Central America erupted early Monday, with conditions worsening as night approached, leading officials to issue the nation’s second-highest alert level.
By Tuesday, lava flows were cascading down the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano, situated less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Guatemala City. Ash clouds ascended six kilometers (3.73 miles) into the atmosphere.
Local resident Alejandro Garcia, 68, recounted to AFP, “It was active since early morning. By night, we were alerted that evacuation was necessary.”
Garcia described the harrowing experience as villagers evacuated voluntarily out of fear, witnessing lava rolling down the mountainside.
Firefighters reported that they had assisted at least 350 individuals from the El Porvenir and Las Lajitas villages to the nearby municipality of San Juan Alotenango.
The evacuees are currently accommodated in a community hall where temporary bedding arrangements have been made, although the total number of people relocated to other nearby areas remains unclear.
Lidia Ortiz, 40, expressed her concerns at the shelter, stating, “If there were any possibility of moving to a different house, it would be preferable, as the fear persists since the volcano can erupt without warning.”
Additionally, local authorities indicated that Escuintla, situated to the south, is currently hosting several more families, including children.
Valeria Urizar, a spokesperson for Conred, advised through a social media video, “If an evacuation is mandated or if conditions threaten your life, adhere to self-evacuation protocols.”
The Institute of Volcanology in Guatemala cautioned about the potential for hot volcanic debris to flow down Fuego’s slopes, particularly endangering communities on the western and southern sides.
As of Tuesday morning, Fuego had been erupting continuously for 23 hours, although officials noted a decline in activity intensity.
Sonia Vasquez, a 50-year-old local, remarked, “We have grown accustomed to the volcano being active, but this time it has been overwhelming.”
Authorities in Guatemala have advised caution regarding air traffic, but there has yet to be any disruption at the international airport in the capital.
The education ministry has suspended in-person classes in municipalities close to the volcano due to the ongoing situation.
Traffic police have also shut down a roadway surrounding the mountain range that links the southern coast with Antigua, a major tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage site.
Situated on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ Guatemala frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity, leading to several mass evacuations in recent years due to eruptions from Fuego.
In the previous year, authorities evacuated over 500 individuals following an eruption that expelled gas and ash, relocating residents from areas near the crater to shelters.
A different eruption earlier in 2023 prompted around 1,200 people to evacuate.
Tragically, in 2018, a devastating eruption resulted in the deaths of 215 individuals and left a similar number missing when lava flows obliterated a village.
