Photos: Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupts, forcing evacuations

What the report says

Guatemalan authorities raised the country’s second-highest emergency alert after Volcán de Fuego erupted on Monday, sending ash high into the air and pushing lava down the slopes of Central America’s most active volcano. Al Jazeera reported that the eruption intensified by nightfall, with ash columns reaching roughly six kilometres, or more than 6,000 metres, and officials warning of a more explosive phase.

The volcano is about 35 kilometres from Guatemala City, and evacuation orders were issued for two nearby villages. Residents were moved to temporary shelters as emergency crews helped people leave areas considered most at risk, especially communities on the western and southern sides of the mountain. Authorities also warned about hot volcanic debris flows and ashfall affecting surrounding communities.

The alert level sits one step below the highest red designation, underscoring the seriousness of the event. Guatemala is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where seismic and volcanic activity is common, but Fuego is especially watched because of its frequent eruptions. Al Jazeera noted that more than 500 people were evacuated during an eruption last year and about 1,200 in 2023.

The volcano’s deadliest recent eruption occurred in 2018, when volcanic material swept through a nearby village, killing 215 people and leaving many others missing. That history explains why even a short-lived eruption can trigger rapid evacuations and heightened monitoring.