A state of emergency has been declared following the sudden eruption of one of Central America’s most perilous volcanoes. Volcán de Fuego, renowned for its high activity and volatility, began erupting in Guatemala on Monday morning, escalating throughout the day, releasing molten lava, ash, and smoke into the atmosphere.
Authorities responded by issuing the country’s second-highest emergency alert and swiftly initiating evacuations for residents in the vicinity. Guatemala, situated on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” frequently faces seismic and volcanic events.
Last year, 500 individuals were evacuated when Fuego emitted ash and smoke, prompting the government to close schools and block a road connecting the volcano to the nearby city of Antigua. An earlier eruption in 2023 led to the evacuation of approximately 1,200 people from the area.
The disaster-monitoring YouTube channel, AfarTV, is currently live-streaming footage of the eruption. The volcano’s activity is on the rise, with lava streaming down the southwest side of the mountain, as reported by Conred.
Nicknamed “Volcano of Fire,” Volcán de Fuego is located in the Sierra Madre mountain range, about 16km west of Antigua, a popular tourist destination in Central America. Known for its nearly constant low-level activity, the volcano emits ash, smoke, and minor explosions every 15-20 minutes.
While major eruptions are infrequent, this marks the ninth significant eruption since 2015. Conred, Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, confirmed the hazardous conditions in the area today.
The famously active Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala began erupting on Monday morning, marking the third major eruption in four years for Central America’s most active volcano. Previously, Fuego erupted twice in 2023, necessitating the evacuation of around 1,700 individuals for their safety.
In 2018, the volcano erupted, resulting in the deaths of 215 people as lava descended into a nearby village.