Latest news with #Chimaltenango
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Guatemala's Volcano of Fire erupts, spewing ash and spurring evacuations
Lava flows out of the crater of the Fuego Volcano, as seen from San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala began evacuating some residents from the slopes the Volcano of Fire Thursday after a new eruption spewed hot gas and ash high into the sky. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator, said that at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez departments. Laureano said that given the volcano's activity the number of evacuees was expected to rise. Wilver Guerra, 28-year-old resident of El Porvenir moved to a shelter in Chimaltenango. 'At first everything was normal, only fire in the morning when the volcano's activity increased a bit, but it's OK, better to evacuate in time,' he said. Authorities also closed a highway in the area and suspended classes at 39 schools. The 12,300-foot (3,763-metre) high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It is 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. A 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left another 234 missing. The Associated Press
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Evacuations as Guatemala's Volcano of Fire erupts again
Guatemala has initiated the evacuation of residents residing on the slopes of the Volcano of Fire, following a recent eruption that sent hot gas and ash soaring into the atmosphere on Thursday. The decision was made to ensure the safety of those living in close proximity to the volcano, given the potential risks associated with the increased volcanic activity. A 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left another 234 missing. The volcano is 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator, said that at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez departments. Laureano said that given the volcano's activity the number of evacuees was expected to rise. Wilver Guerra, 28-year-old resident of El Porvenir moved to a shelter in Chimaltenango. 'At first everything was normal, only fire in the morning when the volcano's activity increased a bit, but it's ok, better to evacuate in time,' he said. Authorities also closed a highway in the area and suspended classes at 39 schools. The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It is 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. It comes after another eruption on Mount Etna earlier this month. A huge cloud of ash, hot gas and rock fragments began spewing from Italy's Mount Etna on June 2. An enormous plume was seen stretching several kilometres into the sky from the mountain on the island of Sicily, which is the largest active volcano in Europe. While the blast created an impressive sight, the eruption resulted in no reported injuries or damage and barely even disrupted flights on or off the island. Mount Etna eruptions are commonly described as 'Strombolian eruptions' – though as we will see, that may not apply to this event. Volcanologists classify eruptions by how explosive they are. More explosive eruptions tend to be more dangerous because they move faster and cover a larger area.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Guatemala's ‘Volcano of Fire' sends ash, lava flowing as hundreds flee
Guatemalan authorities have ordered the evacuation of hundreds of people, after Central America's most active volcano spewed gas and ash thousands of metres into the sky. According to an emergency bulletin issued late on Thursday by the country's National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) emitted hot gases and volcanic matter that was registered up to 7km (4 miles) from the site of the eruption. Residents from communities near the volcano, which is located some 35km (22 miles) from the capital, Guatemala City, were told to move to shelters. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for CONRED, said at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in the Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez areas, The Associated Press news agency reported. Given the volcanic activity, the number of evacuees was expected to rise. The government has suspended classes at 39 schools and closed a road linking the south of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, CONRED said. Images posted on social media showed fiery lava flowing from the volcano and a mix of ash, rocks and water raging down the volcano's slopes following the eruption. CONRED said the mix of ash and gas spewing into the sky was affecting several communities situated to the northwest, west, and southwest of the volcano. Guatemala's National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) said the volcanic activity is expected to last for 40 hours. Ash clouds could reach altitudes of between 3,000 and 7,000 metres (2 to 4 miles) with the potential to affect air navigation, according to reports. The 3,763-meter (12,350-foot) Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, resulting in several mass evacuations in recent years due to eruptions, including the most recent in March. In 2018, 215 people were killed and more than 200 went missing when rivers of lava poured down the volcano's slopes, devastating a nearby village, following an eruption.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Guatemala's ‘Volcano of Fire' sends ash, lava flowing as hundreds flee
Guatemalan authorities have ordered the evacuation of hundreds of people, after Central America's most active volcano spewed gas and ash thousands of metres into the sky. According to an emergency bulletin issued late on Thursday by the country's National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) emitted hot gases and volcanic matter that was registered up to 7km (4 miles) from the site of the eruption. Residents from communities near the volcano, which is located some 35km (22 miles) from the capital, Guatemala City, were told to move to shelters. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for CONRED, said at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in the Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez areas, The Associated Press news agency reported. Given the volcanic activity, the number of evacuees was expected to rise. The government has suspended classes at 39 schools and closed a road linking the south of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, CONRED said. Images posted on social media showed fiery lava flowing from the volcano and a mix of ash, rocks and water raging down the volcano's slopes following the eruption. CONRED said the mix of ash and gas spewing into the sky was affecting several communities situated to the northwest, west, and southwest of the volcano. Guatemala's National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) said the volcanic activity is expected to last for 40 hours. Ash clouds could reach altitudes of between 3,000 and 7,000 metres (2 to 4 miles) with the potential to affect air navigation, according to reports. The 3,763-meter (12,350-foot) Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, resulting in several mass evacuations in recent years due to eruptions, including the most recent in March. In 2018, 215 people were killed and more than 200 went missing when rivers of lava poured down the volcano's slopes, devastating a nearby village, following an eruption.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Guatemala's Volcano of Fire erupts, spewing ash and spurring evacuations
GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala began evacuating some residents from the slopes the Volcano of Fire Thursday after a new eruption spewed hot gas and ash high into the sky. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator, said that at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez departments. Laureano said that given the volcano's activity the number of evacuees was expected to rise. Wilver Guerra, 28-year-old resident of El Porvenir moved to a shelter in Chimaltenango. 'At first everything was normal, only fire in the morning when the volcano's activity increased a bit, but it's ok, better to evacuate in time,' he said. Authorities also closed a highway in the area and suspended classes at 39 schools. The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It is 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. A 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left another 234 missing.
