Watch: Guatemala on high alert as Fuego volcano erupts near capital

Guatemala has placed the nation on high alert after its most active volcano, Fuego, erupted on Monday, spewing pyroclastic flows and prompting the evacuation of nearby communities. The disaster coordination agency Conred issued an orange alert, one level below the critical red warning, as lava flows and ash plumes rose up to six kilometres into the sky.

The volcano, located approximately 35 kilometres from Guatemala City, prompted officials to begin evacuating two villages in the vicinity. Footage showed the eruption turning clouds red and lava cascading down the volcano's slopes. Conred spokesperson Valeria Urizar warned citizens to follow the self-evacuation principle in case of evacuation orders.

The Institute of Volcanology noted that the volcano was transitioning into a more explosive phase, with communities on the western and southern flanks facing the greatest risk from volcanic debris flows. Authorities closed national highway RN-14 to access Alotenango due to descending volcanic material and suspended in-person classes in nearby municipalities as a precaution.

Residents were advised to avoid ravines, prepare emergency 72-hour kits and activate family response plans. Traffic police also closed roads surrounding the mountain range connecting the south coast with the UNESCO World Heritage site of Antigua, the country's primary tourist destination. Guatemala, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity, leading to repeated mass evacuations due to Fuego's active eruptions.

In 2023, authorities evacuated around 1,200 people following a gas and ash spewing eruption, while a devastating 2018 event claimed 215 lives and left an equal number missing when lava flows swept down the volcano's slopes, destroying a nearby village.