Guatemalan authorities began emergency evacuations on Thursday after the country’s most active volcano, Volcán de Fuego (Volcano of Fire), erupted, spewing thick plumes of ash and volcanic gases into the sky and prompting renewed fears of a larger disaster.
More than 500 residents from high-risk communities surrounding the volcano — located just 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the capital — were relocated to temporary shelters as a precautionary measure, the country’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) confirmed.
“We prefer to leave rather than mourn the death of everyone in the village later,” said Celsa Pérez, 25, a resident evacuated from the danger zone, speaking to AFP.
Authorities also suspended classes in nearby schools and closed the vital route connecting southern Guatemala to the historic city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as falling ash blanketed parts of the region.
Thursday’s eruption is one of several that have shaken communities around Fuego in recent years. The volcano, known for its frequent but sometimes deadly activity, last forced evacuations in March 2025.
The eruption also rekindled memories of the devastating 2018 tragedy, when pyroclastic flows overwhelmed the village of San Miguel Los Lotes, killing 215 people and leaving a similar number missing. It remains one of Guatemala’s deadliest natural disasters in decades.
CONRED said it continues to monitor volcanic activity closely and urged residents to remain alert and follow evacuation protocols.
Volcán de Fuego, rising over 3,700 meters (12,300 feet), is among the most active volcanoes in the Americas and is closely monitored by local and international geophysical agencies.
