Guatemala remained on alert Tuesday following an eruption of the Fuego volcano, which forced the evacuation of hundreds of villagers. The country's disaster management agency reported that 659 people were evacuated from eight villages in the danger zone and are currently housed in shelters.
The eruption began Monday morning, with videos showing clouds of gas and ash rising above the volcano as lava and pyroclastic flows descended its slopes. Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the Guatemalan disaster management agency (CONRED), stated that approximately 10 more communities are expected to be evacuated throughout Tuesday.
Among those relocated were about 250 people from the village of El Porvenir and the hamlet of Las Lajitas. CONRED also issued warnings about ash spreading to nearby towns. National Route 14, a major highway near the volcano, has been closed, and the Ministry of Education suspended classes in nearby municipalities.
Fuego volcano, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of Central America's most active volcanoes. A significant eruption in June 2018 resulted in hundreds of fatalities and the destruction of an entire village, impacting an estimated 1.7 million people. Another eruption last June also led to preventive evacuations.