Guatemalan disaster coordination agency Conred announced a nationwide orange alert on Monday, marking the country's second-highest emergency level following a major eruption of the Fuego volcano. Located just 35 kilometres from Guatemala City, the volcano is recognized as one of the most active in Central America. In response to the volcanic activity, authorities have initiated the evacuation of two villages situated near the crater.
The impact of the eruption has disrupted local infrastructure and daily life. The government has suspended school activities in the affected areas and closed a key road connecting the southern region of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guatemala is situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent seismic and volcanic occurrences.
This event follows a history of similar emergencies at the 3,763-metre-tall volcano. Last year, authorities evacuated more than 500 people after the mountain spewed ash and gas, and another 2023 eruption necessitated the evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents. The volcano has a history of deadly activity; in 2018, a catastrophic eruption sent rivers of lava down its slopes, devastating a village and resulting in 215 deaths, with a similar number of people reported missing.
