
Hundreds evacuated as Guatemalan volcano erupts
Residents were moved to shelters from communities near the Fuego volcano, located 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the capital Guatemala City.
'We prefer to leave rather than mourn the death of everyone in the village later,' Celsa Perez, 25, told AFP.
The government suspended local school activities and closed a road linking the south of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, disaster coordination agency Conred reported.
There have been several such mass evacuations in recent years because Fuego erupted, including in March of this year.
In 2018, 215 people were killed and a similar number left missing when rivers of lava poured down the volcano's slopes, devastating a village.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Japanese venture seeks to 'condense' hot springs for export
TOKYO: Japan's famous "onsen" hot springs were long considered unexportable, until an idea struck Naoki Mita one day: what if he could condense them like espresso coffee? Mita's Tokyo-based venture firm, Le Furo, has invented a technology it calls "craft onsen" -- whereby hot spring ingredients are extracted and filtered into an ultra-high concentration. Le Furo now seeks to use that patented technology to export Japan's hot springs overseas, with a view toward opening several onsen facilities in the Gulf region in 2026. Transporting hot springs overseas long seemed logistically impossible because of the sheer volume of water involved, as well as their susceptibility to germs. But with Le Furo's invention, "just like you extract coffee as espresso, we grind the mineral resources to fine, sand-like powders," CEO Naoki Mita told AFP. The entrepreneur says many commercially available "onsen powders" are synthetic and put an emphasis on mimicking the relaxing colour and scent, and don't necessarily contain the necessary ingredients. Only after solid metals such as iron, magnesium and zinc dissolve into water does it become possible to chemically resemble onsen and recreate the therapeutic effect, Mita said. Le Furo's technology sticks to the natural soil and minerals of hot spring sources, and uses a special method to make them soluble in water. Its "Craft Onsen" concentrate comes in bottles or small tanks, which can then be distributed and poured into water in other countries to feel like the real thing. Onsens -- bath houses where patrons relax naked together in hot spring water of various temperatures -- are a major domestic industry in Japan beloved by both locals and tourists. As of 2021, Japan was home to 28,000 confirmed hot spring sources, according to the environment ministry. Le Furo is setting its sights particularly on countries like the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia where "water is considered a more precious resource than oil", Mita says. "Here in Japan, we have this culture of soaking ourselves in a good, long bath to attain better health -- that's the kind of story that I believe (other countries) will show great interest in," Mita said. - AFP


Free Malaysia Today
17 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Japan venture seeks to export ‘espresso' of hot springs
As of 2021, Japan was home to 28,000 confirmed hot spring sources, according to the environment ministry. (AFP pic) TOKYO : Japan's famous 'onsen' hot springs were long considered unexportable, until an idea struck Naoki Mita one day: what if he could condense them like espresso coffee? Mita's Tokyo-based venture firm, Le Furo, has invented a technology it calls 'craft onsen' – whereby hot spring ingredients are extracted and filtered into an ultra-high concentration. Le Furo now seeks to use that patented technology to export Japan's hot springs overseas, with a view toward opening several onsen facilities in the Gulf region in 2026. Transporting hot springs overseas long seemed logistically impossible because of the sheer volume of water involved, as well as their susceptibility to germs. However, with Le Furo's invention, 'just like you extract coffee as espresso, we grind the mineral resources to fine, sand-like powders,' CEO Naoki Mita told AFP. The entrepreneur says many commercially available 'onsen powders' are synthetic and put an emphasis on mimicking the relaxing colour and scent, and don't necessarily contain the necessary ingredients. 'Only after solid metals such as iron, magnesium and zinc dissolve into water does it become possible to chemically resemble onsen and recreate the therapeutic effect,' Mita said. Le Furo's technology sticks to the natural soil and minerals of hot spring sources, and uses a special method to make them soluble in water. Its 'Craft Onsen' concentrate comes in bottles or small tanks, which can then be distributed and poured into water in other countries to feel like the real thing. Onsens – bath houses where patrons relax naked together in hot spring water of various temperatures – are a major domestic industry in Japan beloved by both locals and tourists. As of 2021, Japan was home to 28,000 confirmed hot spring sources, according to the environment ministry. Le Furo is setting its sights particularly on countries like the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia where 'water is considered a more precious resource than oil', Mita says. 'Here in Japan, we have this culture of soaking ourselves in a good, long bath to attain better health – that's the kind of story that I believe (other countries) will show great interest in,' Mita said.


The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Nepal waives climbing fees for 97 mountain peaks
A view of Mount Everest from Gokyo Valley. - Photo: Shutterstock KATHMANDU: Nepal has waived climbing fees for 97 mountains, officials said on Wednesday (Aug 13), hoping to steer people to its lesser-known peaks and boost local economies. Climbers pay for permits on Nepali peaks and the fees vary depending on the mountain's height and popularity, with heftier charges for those such as Everest. The 97 mountains, ranging in height from 5,870 metres (19,300 feet) to 7,132 metres, are located in the western Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. "We hope it will bring our hidden treasures in the limelight and diversify the mountains Nepal offers," Himal Gautam, of Nepal's tourism department, told AFP. It follows a busy spring climbing season in Nepal during which the government issued 1,168 climbing permits. Over half of those were for peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest, the tallest in the world at 8,849 metres. In contrast, others saw little climbing activity and generated minimal revenue from so-called royalty fees. "These remote areas have immense tourism potential and we hope the local economy can benefit," said Gautam. Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, welcomed the decision but said much more was needed to drive interest in remote mountains. "Royalty fees alone is not keeping mountaineers (away) from these areas. We need to develop the infrastructure and manpower required for running expeditions there," Sherpa said. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of climbers every year during the spring and autumn climbing seasons. A boom in climbers has made mountaineering a lucrative business since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first Everest ascent in 1953. In February, Nepal increased permit fees for Everest from US$11,000 to US$15,000 starting next spring, hoping it will help tackle pollution and boost safety. - AFP