Guatemala is on alert following an eruption of the Fuego volcano, which has forced the evacuation of approximately 1,700 people into shelters. The country’s disaster agency, CONRED, stated that the evacuations will remain in place until conditions improve.
Officials have raised the alert level to red in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Escuintla, and Chimaltenango. These areas are experiencing ashfall that affects about 29,000 people, leading to school closures. CONRED warned that the next 72 hours are critical, as mudflows extending up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) continue to descend from the volcano. Forecasters anticipate that incoming rain could increase the risk of additional mudflows.
As of Tuesday, the mudflows had not reached any villages, and no structures were reported damaged or at risk. Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of CONRED, advised residents in the affected municipalities to cover their water supplies and wear face masks to protect themselves from the ash.
The eruption began Monday morning, with clouds of gas and ash rising from the volcano, accompanied by lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes. The volcano continued to emit mud and ash on Tuesday. Among those evacuated were about 250 people from the village of El Porvenir and the nearby hamlet of Las Lajitas. CONRED also issued warnings about ash spreading to adjacent towns.
National Route 14, a major highway that runs near the volcano, has been closed. The Ministry of Education has suspended classes in nearby communities.
This event follows previous eruptions of Fuego, often referred to as the Volcano of Fire. A significant eruption in June 2018 resulted in hundreds of fatalities and the complete destruction of one village. Last year, another eruption prompted precautionary evacuations.