Guatemala orders Fuego volcano evacuations as eruption intensifies

Guatemalacity,UPDATED: Aug 4, 2026 14:48 IST

Authorities in Guatemala have ordered evacuations in some southern communities around the Fuego volcano after an eruption that began on Monday morning intensified through the day. Officials also closed a major highway near the volcano, suspended classes in nearby towns and warned that ash could spread to surrounding areas.

The evacuations cover two communities near the volcano as a preventive measure, while live images showed large clouds of gas and ash rising above Fuego. Lava and pyroclastic flows were also seen moving rapidly down its slopes.

Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of Guatemala's disaster management agency CONRED, told The Associated Press on Monday evening that the eruption started in the morning and grew stronger as the day progressed, leading to evacuation orders for two villages around the mountain.

According to a report from the Guatemalan Seismology, Vulcanology, Weather and Water Institute, "The eruption increases its explosiveness level. A fountain of lava of between 200 and 300 metres (650 to 1,000 feet) has developed over the crater."

In a press statement, CONRED said authorities were evacuating El Porvenir and the hamlet of Las Lajitas as a preventive step. The agency said this would affect around 50 families, or 250 people. It also declared an orange alert and warned that ash could spread to nearby towns.

Route 14, a major highway that passes close to the volcano, was closed. The Education Ministry also suspended classes in nearby towns.

Fuego is one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes. During a major eruption in June 2018, hundreds of people were killed and an entire village was destroyed. Authorities said that eruption affected up to 1.7 million people. Another eruption in June last year also led to preventive evacuations.

The latest eruption has again prompted emergency measures around Fuego, with evacuations, road closures and class suspensions ordered as authorities monitor the situation.

With PTI Inputs

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