Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Erupts, Prompts Evacuations from Nearby Villages

Guatemala's Fuego volcano has begun a substantial eruption, leading authorities to evacuate residents from at least five surrounding villages. Lava flows, extending for kilometres, are actively descending its slopes, with a towering column of ash reaching 5,000 metres above sea level.

The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) reported that the eruption generated numerous pyroclastic flows – fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic debris. These dangerous flows are moving down the volcano's barrancas, or ravines, in the directions of Las Lajas and Ceniza. Civil Protection officials have commenced evacuations, prioritising the safety of communities nearest to the volcano's base.

Fuego, a stratovolcano situated approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Antigua, is renowned as one of Central America's most active volcanoes. Its previous significant eruption in 2018 resulted in the deaths of over 200 individuals and widespread destruction, underscoring the severe hazards posed by its activity.