A volcano less than 30 miles outside of Guatemala City is once again erupting, sending ash, gas and rocks down the mountainside, the country’s National Disaster Reduction Commission reports.
According to data from Global Volcanism Program, the latest eruption cycle of the Fuego Volcano began in 2002, but the recent event is the most significant in several years.
The stratovolcano is less than 30 miles from the country’s capital city and has been sending thick, billowing ash clouds thousands of miles in the sky.
On the volcanic mountain, authorities say they have been closely monitoring pyroclastic flows, which contain gases, ashes and other volcanic material.
Due to the threat of impact from these downslope flows, several small villages have been evacuated for what the government said were “preventative” actions.
According to Guatemala’s National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology, many of the communities nearest to the summit are poor without substantial transportation.
Officials from The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction are seen conducting evacuation orders for villages surrounding the mountainside. CONRED
An official from The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction helps a young girl onto a bus during the evacuation orders. CONRED
These hardships likely contributed to dozens of deaths during a violent 2018 eruption event.
During the historic episode, NASA reported ash was detected more than four miles in the air and avalanche-like pyroclastic flows buried villages.
A vehicle of the Guatemala’s disaster management agency (CONRED) blocks a road as the Fuego volcano spews a column of steam during an increase of its activity, in Alotenango, Guatemala on May 4, 2023. via REUTERS
People are spotted during evacuations following the government order in response to Fuego volcano erupting.
Authorities have not reported that the impacts from the recent event are similar to historical episodes but warn weak, moderate and even strong pyroclastic flows cannot be ruled out.
Ash has been reported more than 20 miles, primarily west and southwest of the volcano, due to prevailing winds.
The Fuego Volcano erupts on Jan. 12, 2022 near Guatemala City. AFP via Getty Images
A plume of ash and smoke rises from the Fuego volcano after its eruption, as seen from Alotenango near Guatemala City on Dec. 11, 2022. AFP via Getty Images
Guatemala is home to more than 30 volcanoes, with three considered active – Pacaya, Fuego and Santa Maria.
Several small villages were evacuated for what the government said were “preventative” actions.CONRED
The Global Volcanism Program reports activity on Pacaya and Santiaguito has been limited in recent years and not nearly in as heightened of a state as Fuego.
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