Guatemala’s Fuego volcano continues to threaten nearby communities following a major eruption earlier this week. Authorities have elevated the alert status to red for three municipalities and maintained evacuation orders affecting approximately 1,700 residents currently sheltering in emergency facilities. Officials have indicated that the coming three days represent a critical period for the region.
The volcano has been expelling significant quantities of ash and mud since its initial eruption on Monday, with mudflow channels extending up to 7 kilometers down the volcano’s slopes. The disaster agency Conred has suspended classes in affected towns and closed National Route 14, a major highway running near the volcano. Residents in the three red-alert zones have been advised to protect water supplies and wear protective masks due to heavy ashfall, despite no structures being damaged thus far.
Weather forecasts predicting rainfall over the next several days have heightened concerns among authorities, as precipitation could trigger additional mudflows in the affected area. The three municipalities under red alert—Sacatepequez, Escuintla, and Chimaltenango—have approximately 29,000 residents impacted by ashfall. Fuego’s volatile history means such eruptions are not uncommon; previous activity in 2023 forced 1,200 evacuations, while a 2018 eruption resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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