Evacuations ordered as Guatemala volcano erupts

Guatemala's disaster coordination agency Conred has declared the country's second-highest emergency alert after a massive eruption at the Fuego volcano. The orange-level alert, indicating danger, covers the entire nation, prompting authorities to evacuate two villages within 35km of the capital city, Guatemala City. The Fuego volcano, Central America's most active, has a history of prompting mass evacuations, with over 500 people moved to safety last year alone following a gas and ash release.

The government has also closed nearby roads and halted school activities as a precaution. The 2023 eruption resulted in the evacuation of around 1,200 individuals, while a more devastating event in 2018 claimed 215 lives when lava flows engulfed a village.