Guatemala volcano eruption sends lava spewing into the air

What the report says

Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has erupted, sending lava and ash into the air and prompting evacuations on its slopes, according to BBC World News. The report says at least two villages were moved out as activity continued into Tuesday, with pyroclastic currents still descending the volcano’s south-eastern side. Fuego is an active stratovolcano and one of the most active in Central America and the Western Hemisphere.

The government’s disaster agency, Conred, raised a nationwide orange alert, the second-highest level, and urged people near the volcano to be ready for possible further ash clouds and fast-moving flows of hot gas, ash and rock. It also advised residents to keep windows and doors shut, and schools close to the volcano cancelled lessons. Conred told people and visitors to avoid approaching or staying in high-risk areas.

Fuego lies about 16 km west of Antigua, a major tourist destination known for its colonial architecture, and the volcano has also become popular with hikers. The eruption highlights the continuing hazard posed by one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes, especially because pyroclastic flows can move rapidly and are difficult to escape. BBC World News noted that a deadly 2018 eruption at Fuego killed more than 200 people.