Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has erupted. Hundreds of people have been evacuated after large amounts of lava poured out and flowed down the volcano’s slopes. Fuego is famous for being almost constantly active. Columns of gas and ash rose as high as 6,000 meters covering nearby communities with volcanic ash.
GUATEMALA CITY AUGUST 5: A red alert, the highest, has been issued in Guatemala and applies to three areas southwest of the capital Guatemala City, according to the emergency services. Volcán de Fuego is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala, on the borders of Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepéquez departments.
Fuego is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Small explosions of gas and ash occur every 15 to 20 minutes, but larger eruptions are less frequent. The volcano is joined with Acatenango volcano to its north and collectively the complex is known as La Horqueta. Between Fuego and Acatenango is La Meseta, a scarp marking the remains of an older volcano that collapsed around 8,500 years ago.
The country’s Institute of Volcanology is warning nearby communities on the western and southern sides of the volcano of the risks of “volcanic material.” Guatemala lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Last year, authorities evacuated more than 500 people after Fuego spewed gas and ash, moving residents to shelters from communities near the crater.
