GUATEMALA / RankWire.AI / – Guatemala placed three departments under its highest alert level as the Fuego volcano continued an intense eruption, forcing evacuations and disrupting nearby communities. Authorities declared red alerts in Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez and Escuintla, while a nationwide orange alert remained in effect. About 29,000 people faced ashfall across 18 communities, and emergency teams kept evacuation orders active in exposed areas near the volcano.
The eruption began Monday and intensified as gas, lava and ash rose from the crater. Pyroclastic flows moved through several ravines on Fuego’s western and southwestern slopes, reaching distances of five to seven kilometers. These flows contain hot gas, ash and rock and can move at high speed. Monitoring teams also tracked an ash column spreading west and northwest, with volcanic material reported far beyond the immediate danger zone.
Preventive evacuations started in El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, communities in San Juan Alotenango. The initial evacuation covered about 250 people from roughly 50 families. Officials later expanded shelter operations as more residents left vulnerable areas. Five shelters were operating with about 1,699 people, while three additional sites remained ready for use. Families received food, medical care, security and other assistance at the temporary facilities.
Emergency shelters support evacuated families
Guatemala’s disaster agency, CONRED, coordinated evacuations and emergency support with local authorities. The agency urged residents to avoid ravines, follow official instructions and keep emergency supplies ready. It also advised people to cover stored water and food because ash can cause contamination. Residents in affected areas were told to wear masks or damp cloths to protect their nose and mouth. Emergency teams remained deployed in the three departments under red alert.
INSIVUMEH, Guatemala’s volcano and weather institute, said the most intense phase produced repeated pyroclastic flows in the Seca, Taniluyá, Ceniza, Las Lajas and Honda ravines. Continuous emissions of gas, lava and ash kept seismic readings elevated. Scientists used field observers, seismic and infrasound sensors, cameras and satellite images to track the eruption. Ash dispersion reached Sololá, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu and San Marcos, outside the three red-alert departments.
Road closures and ash affect communities
National Route 14, a major road near the volcano, closed during the emergency. The Education Ministry suspended classes in nearby communities, while road crews monitored access points and travel conditions. La Aurora International Airport continued operating under volcanic ash protocols, according to the government. Security patrols also covered evacuated neighborhoods to protect homes and support residents who had left the area. Authorities suspended access to some exposed zones around the mountain.
Rain added another hazard because water can mix with loose volcanic material and form lahars. These fast-moving mudflows can descend through ravines and carry ash, rocks and debris. Officials said no structural damage had been reported as of the latest update, and mudflows had not reached villages. Fuego, one of Central America’s most active volcanoes, lies about 30 kilometers south of Guatemala City and has a long history of disruptive eruptions.