Guatemala evacuates villages due to an eruption of the Fuego volcano

Guatemala's Fuego volcano has erupted, prompting authorities to order evacuations in several southern communities. Claudinne Ogaldes, the executive secretary of the Guatemalan disaster management agency CONRED, confirmed that the eruption began on Monday morning and escalated throughout the day. This led to evacuation orders for two villages, El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, affecting around 250 people.

Live images revealed a cloud of gas and ash along with lava and pyroclastic flows cascading down the slopes at rapid speeds. The Guatemalan Seismology, Vulcanology, Weather and Water Institute reported a significant increase in the volcano's explosiveness, with lava fountains reaching heights of 200 to 300 meters (650 to 1,000 feet).

CONRED issued an orange alert, warning of potential ashfall in nearby towns. National Route 14, a major highway near the volcano, was closed, and schools in the area were suspended. The 2018 eruption of Fuego resulted in the death of hundreds of people and the destruction of a village, affecting up to 1.7 million individuals. Fuego is one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes, with another eruption in June 2025 triggering preventive evacuations.