Guatemala’s disaster agency CONRED raised the alert level to red on Tuesday as the Fuego volcano entered a critical explosive phase, forcing the evacuation of 1,699 people from nearby communities. The eruption, which began Monday morning, has sent lava and pyroclastic flows racing down the volcano’s slopes, while ash clouds have spread up to 120 kilometers, disrupting airspace and affecting 29,000 residents.
Evacuations and Alerts
Authorities issued evacuation orders for multiple villages, including El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, impacting roughly 250 people in the initial phase. By Tuesday, the number of evacuees had risen to 1,699, with shelters established to house displaced families. CONRED executive secretary Claudinne Ogaldes noted that evacuation efforts are conducted as recommendations due to legal constraints, stating: “The Conred law is not coercive. It's not like in other countries where they say, ‘We must evacuate’ and everyone evacuates. Here, it's a recommendation, and that's why we're visiting house by house to encourage families to evacuate.”
The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) confirmed the volcano’s activity had intensified, with lava fountains reaching 200–300 meters above the crater. Pyroclastic flows—fast-moving currents of gas, ash, and rock—continued to threaten communities on the volcano’s western and southern flanks. Guatemala’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a pilot alert, warning of ash disrupting airspace up to the Mexico border, though the main international airport remained operational.
Human and Environmental Impact
Ashfall has blanketed regions up to 5,000 meters above sea level, with 29,000 people affected by the fallout. Schools near the volcano were closed, and residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed to limit exposure. CONRED also urged the public to avoid high-risk areas, particularly on the volcano’s slopes, citing the 2018 eruption as a precedent for the dangers posed by pyroclastic flows.
The Fuego volcano, located 50 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City, is one of the most active in the Western Hemisphere. Its 2018 eruption killed over 200 people, many caught in pyroclastic flows that raced through ravines. While the current alert level is red, the highest possible, CONRED emphasized ongoing efforts to persuade residents to evacuate voluntarily due to legal limitations on forced removals.