Fuego volcano spews more ash and mud as Guatemala shelters 1,700 who fled nearby villages
Guatemala remained on alert Tuesday after evacuating villages during an eruption of the Fuego volcano, one of Central America's most active.
After the Fuego volcano erupted on Monday, Guatemala swiftly evacuated surrounding villages in response to the volcanic activity. As of Tuesday, approximately 1,700 individuals were residing in shelters, following the evacuation orders issued by the country's disaster agency, CONRED. The alert level had been raised to red in the affected municipalities of Sacatepéquez, Escuintla, and Chimaltenango, where roughly 29,000 people were impacted by ashfall.
Schools in the region remain closed, and authorities warned residents to brace for a critical period over the next 72 hours due to the ongoing hazard of mudflows.
The mudflows from the volcano have extended up to 7 kilometers in length and have not yet reached any villages, nor have any structures been reported as damaged or at risk. However, the situation is precarious, with incoming rain expected to escalate the danger posed by additional volcanic mudflows. Claudinne Ogaldes, CONRED's executive secretary, advised residents to safeguard their water supplies and utilize face masks to shield themselves from the ash.
The volcanic eruption commenced on Monday morning, releasing clouds of gas and ash, along with lava and pyroclastic flows cascading down the slopes of the volcano. On Tuesday, additional emissions of ash and mud were reported. Among those who were evacuated were around 250 individuals from El Porvenir and the community of Las Lajitas. CONRED also cautioned of the potential for ash to spread to neighboring towns.
To mitigate the impact of the ongoing eruption, CONRED has taken additional precautions, directing the closure of a major highway, National Route 14, which is situated near the volcano. The Education Ministry has similarly suspended classes in nearby towns to minimize further disruption. Reminiscent of the destructive power of Fuego's eruptions, the volcano experienced a significant eruption in June 2018, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and the obliteration of an entire village.
Prior to that, a similar eruption in the preceding year prompted precautionary evacuations. The information provided in this report is based on factual details sourced from the original article and does not include any interpretations, opinions, or predictions.
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