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More than 700 People Evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Spews Ash

More than 700 People Evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Spews Ash

Asharq Al-Awsat2 days ago

Guatemala's Fuego volcano shot ash miles into the air on Friday as authorities said they had evacuated more than 700 people from their homes as a precaution.
A lava stream was building up around the crater of the volcano, which lies about 18 km (11 miles) from the central city of Antigua Guatemala, seismology agency INSIVUMEH said.
Some ash plumes reached around 5 km into the air, it added
Authorities have been warning of increased activity around the active volcano this week.
"We have evacuated over 700 people who have spent the night in shelters. We evacuated them as a precaution," disaster agency CONRED said on Friday.
People had been moved from the nearby areas of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango, it added.
In a report shortly after midnight on Friday, INSIVUMEH said a lava flow could be seen stretching to around 1.2 km.
"This continues to accumulate in an unstable manner around the crater and in the high parts of the ravines, which could collapse and cause more pyroclastic flows," it said.
Fuego is known for its frequent activity. In June 2018, its most violent eruption in about four decades killed more than 200 people.
Around the size of the US state of Tennessee, the Central American nation is home to 37 volcanoes, though many of them are considered dormant or extinct.

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More than 700 People Evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Spews Ash
More than 700 People Evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Spews Ash

Asharq Al-Awsat

time2 days ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

More than 700 People Evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Spews Ash

Guatemala's Fuego volcano shot ash miles into the air on Friday as authorities said they had evacuated more than 700 people from their homes as a precaution. A lava stream was building up around the crater of the volcano, which lies about 18 km (11 miles) from the central city of Antigua Guatemala, seismology agency INSIVUMEH said. Some ash plumes reached around 5 km into the air, it added Authorities have been warning of increased activity around the active volcano this week. "We have evacuated over 700 people who have spent the night in shelters. We evacuated them as a precaution," disaster agency CONRED said on Friday. People had been moved from the nearby areas of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango, it added. In a report shortly after midnight on Friday, INSIVUMEH said a lava flow could be seen stretching to around 1.2 km. "This continues to accumulate in an unstable manner around the crater and in the high parts of the ravines, which could collapse and cause more pyroclastic flows," it said. Fuego is known for its frequent activity. In June 2018, its most violent eruption in about four decades killed more than 200 people. Around the size of the US state of Tennessee, the Central American nation is home to 37 volcanoes, though many of them are considered dormant or extinct.

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people
Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people

Saudi Gazette

time12-03-2025

  • Saudi Gazette

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala's Fuego volcano, considered by seismologists to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is currently erupting. Authorities in the Central American state have already evacuated nearly 300 families but warn that another 30,000 people in the area, located some 60 kilometers from the capital, could be at risk. The eruption began Sunday night and so far no casualties have been reported. Authorities have closed all schools in the vicinity and a key road connecting several communities in the area. Experts say the greatest danger from the volcano is not the eruption itself but the lahars, a 'tsunami' of ash, rock, mud and debris that can bury entire villages. At 3,763 meters high, the last eruption of 'Chi'gag' — which would translate from the native Cachiquel into Spanish as "the place where the fire is" — was in June 2023. A previous eruption in 2018 killed 194 people and left 234 others missing. The Fuego volcano has only been inactive for 50 days, according to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh). Isaac García, 43, a resident of the town of El Porvenir on the slopes of the volcano, had that tragedy in mind when he and his family decided to heed the warnings of the authorities and flee their home. The García family has gone to the public shelter opened in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife and three children, as well as other family members. The flow of volcanic material is moderate but is expected to increase, Guatemala's disaster agency said early this morning. Airlines are also operating with restrictions because ash spewing from 'Chi'gag' can reach up to 7,000 meters, according to Insivumeh. — Euronews

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people
Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people

Saudi Gazette

time11-03-2025

  • Saudi Gazette

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, authorities call for evacuation of 30,000 people

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala's Fuego volcano, considered by seismologists to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is currently erupting. Authorities in the Central American state have already evacuated nearly 300 families but warn that another 30,000 people in the area, located some 60 kilometers from the capital, could be at risk. The eruption began Sunday night and so far no casualties have been reported. Authorities have closed all schools in the vicinity and a key road connecting several communities in the area. Experts say the greatest danger from the volcano is not the eruption itself but the lahars, a 'tsunami' of ash, rock, mud and debris that can bury entire villages. At 3,763 meters high, the last eruption of 'Chi'gag' — which would translate from the native Cachiquel into Spanish as "the place where the fire is" — was in June 2023. A previous eruption in 2018 killed 194 people and left 234 others missing. The Fuego volcano has only been inactive for 50 days, according to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh). Isaac García, 43, a resident of the town of El Porvenir on the slopes of the volcano, had that tragedy in mind when he and his family decided to heed the warnings of the authorities and flee their home. The García family has gone to the public shelter opened in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife and three children, as well as other family members. The flow of volcanic material is moderate but is expected to increase, Guatemala's disaster agency said early this morning. Airlines are also operating with restrictions because ash spewing from 'Chi'gag' can reach up to 7,000 meters, according to Insivumeh. — Euronews

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