In brief
The Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupted over the past 24 hours, spewing lava and ash and producing pyroclastic flows that raced down its southeastern slope. In response, the country’s disaster management agency issued a nationwide orange alert and advised residents to keep windows closed, cancel school classes, and avoid the volcano’s slopes. Two villages on the volcano’s flank were evacuated as the eruptions intensified. The incident follows a deadly 2018 event that claimed more than 200 lives.
Over the last 24 hours, the Fuego volcano—one of Central America’s most active stratovolcanoes—has erupted, sending lava and ash into the air and creating fast‑moving pyroclastic currents that flowed down its southeastern slope.
Government officials, through the national disaster management agency Conred, issued an orange alert—second‑level severity—calling for residents to prepare for further eruptions, increased ash clouds, and additional pyroclastic flows.
Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and schools in proximity to the volcano were cancelled. Conred warned that visitors and locals alike should refrain from approaching or remaining in high‑risk zones, particularly on the volcano’s slopes, as the explosions continued to intensify.
Fuego lies just 16 kilometres (10 miles) west of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage town popular with tourists. The volcano has also attracted hikers, making the evacuation of local villages especially urgent.
In 2018, Fuego’s violent eruption toppled over 200 people in the Las Lajas ravine, illustrating the deadly potential of pyroclastic flows. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and further evacuations or heightened alerts may be issued if conditions worsen.
