Guatemala: Towns evacuated as Fuego volcano erupts
The country's disaster energy issued in second-highest warning level and urged residents to seek shelter. Onlookers have also been warned to stop climbing a nearby volcano to take videos of the eruption.
Guatemala's disaster management agency CONRED issued evacuation notices for towns near the active Volcan de Fuego on Tuesday, as it emitted lava, gas, and ash up to four kilometers into the sky. The volcano, located 40 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City, prompted an orange warning from CONRED, its second-highest alert level.
Authorities advised residents to seek shelter outside the volcano's path. Schools were closed, and some businesses temporarily closed down. Ash clouds from the eruption reached up to 60 kilometers west of the volcano, potentially disrupting air traffic. The Institute of Seismology and Volcanology warned that the volcano was in its most intense phase, with people advised to stay at least 10 kilometers away.
Local reports indicated that some individuals ignored safety bans to climb the nearby Acatenango volcano to record videos of the eruption for social media. Standing at nearly 3,800 meters tall, Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. It erupted violently in 2018, resulting in around 200 deaths. With Guatemala's residents being urged to heed the evacuation orders, it is crucial that they prioritize their safety over capturing the spectacle of the eruption.
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