Guatemalan authorities evacuated nearly a thousand individuals following the eruption of the Fuego volcano on Sunday, belching lava, ash, and rocks. The volcano, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of the capital city of Guatemala, showed increased activity, prompting swift emergency measures.
The evacuees from the affected zones were taken to temporary camps as officials watched the eruption closely. Manuel Cobox, 46, an evacuee, described the ordeal, “We heard the thunderings and then a fierce eruption. We believe in God that the volcano eruption will subside soon.”
Juan Laureano, a Conred official for Guatemala’s disaster response agency, explained that some 900 people, or roughly 125 families, were evacuated safely from the village of El Porvenir. Evacuations also took place in the village of Las Lajitas. The authorities relocated the affected residents and their belongings to a converted town hall that will serve as a temporary shelter.
Authorities announced a state of emergency to facilitate response operations and preventive measures. The government also suspended school classes throughout the region and closed a principal highway between Antigua, which is a UNESCO World Heritage City, and Guatemala’s south. The state-run Volcanology Institute also advised air traffic to exercise caution because volcanic ash drifted approximately 50 kilometers west of the volcano.
Fuego, Central America’s most active volcano, has a history of fatal eruptions. One in 2018 killed 215 people and left many more missing, leveling the village of San Miguel Los Lotes. Another eruption happened in 2023, which saw about 1,200 residents evacuated.
Officials are on high alert, closely monitoring events to ensure public safety as the volcano continues to show activity.
