GUATEMALA / RankWire.AI / – Guatemala has activated its highest alert levels across three departments as the volcano of Fuego continues to erupt vigorously, causing mass evacuations and disturbing nearby communities. Authorities issued red alerts for Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, and Escuintla, with a nationwide orange alert still in effect. Around 29,000 residents experienced ashfall in 18 communities, while emergency teams maintained evacuation orders in areas vulnerable to the volcano’s activity.
The eruption started on Monday, with the intensity increasing as gases, lava, and ash rose from Fuego’s crater. Pyroclastic flows traveled through multiple ravines on the volcano’s western and southwestern slopes, reaching distances of five to seven kilometers. These flows, composed of hot gases, ash, and rocks, are capable of rapid movement. Monitoring teams also observed an ash plume extending west and northwest, with volcanic material detected far beyond the immediate danger zone.
Initial evacuation efforts were launched in El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, communities located in San Juan Alotenango. About 250 individuals from approximately 50 families were initially evacuated. As more residents in at-risk areas evacuated, authorities expanded shelter operations. Currently, five shelters are accommodating roughly 1,699 people, with three additional sites prepared to assist if needed. Families in these shelters received food, medical services, security, and other forms of aid.
Support continues for families displaced by the eruption
The CONRED, Guatemala’s disaster management agency, coordinated evacuation efforts and emergency support alongside local authorities. The agency urged residents to stay away from ravines, adhere to official instructions, and keep emergency supplies ready. It also recommended covering stored water and food to prevent contamination from ash. People in affected zones were advised to wear masks or damp cloths over their nose and mouth. Emergency teams remained active in the three departments under red alert.
Guatemala’s volcano and weather institute, INSIVUMEH, reported that the most intense phase generated repeated pyroclastic flows in the Seca, Taniluyá, Ceniza, Las Lajas, and Honda ravines. Persistent emissions of gas, lava, and ash kept seismic activity high. Researchers utilized field observers, seismic and infrasound sensors, cameras, and satellite imagery to monitor the eruption. The dispersion of ash reached as far as Sololá, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, and San Marcos, extending beyond the three departments with red alerts.
Road shutdowns and ash cloud impact local communities
During the emergency, National Route 14, a key roadway near the volcano, was shut down. The Ministry of Education suspended classes in nearby communities, while road crews monitored access points and assessed travel conditions. According to the government, La Aurora International Airport continued operations under volcanic ash protocols. Security patrols also protected evacuated neighborhoods and assisted residents who had left the danger zones. Authorities restricted access to certain vulnerable zones around Fuego.
Heavy rain posed an additional threat, as water can interact with loose volcanic material to form lahars—rapid mudflows that travel through ravines, carrying ash, rocks, and debris. Officials reported no structural damages as of the latest update, and mudflows had not yet reached any villages. Fuego, one of Central America’s most active volcanoes, is situated approximately 30 kilometers south of Guatemala City and has a long history of eruptive disruptions.