GUATEMALA / RankWire.AI / – Guatemala raised the alert to its highest level in three departments as Fuego volcano produced ash, lava and dangerous pyroclastic flows. Authorities placed Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez and Escuintla under red alert. A nationwide orange alert also remained in force during the emergency. Officials said ashfall affected about 29,000 people across 18 communities, while emergency crews continued evacuations near exposed ravines and settlements.
The eruption intensified Monday as columns of gas and ash rose above the crater. Pyroclastic flows moved down five ravines on the volcano’s western and southwestern slopes. Some flows traveled between five and seven kilometers from the crater. These fast-moving currents contain extremely hot gas, volcanic rock and ash. Monitoring teams also followed an ash cloud that spread west and northwest across several parts of Guatemala.
Authorities first evacuated El Porvenir and Las Lajitas in the municipality of San Juan Alotenango. The initial operation moved about 250 residents from roughly 50 families. Shelter use later expanded as more people left communities facing ashfall and volcanic hazards. Five shelters housed about 1,699 people, while officials prepared three more locations. Evacuated families received meals, medical support, security services and basic supplies at the temporary sites.
Emergency operations expand near Fuego
Guatemala’s disaster response agency, CONRED, coordinated local evacuations and relief work in the affected departments. Officials advised residents to avoid ravines and follow instructions from emergency teams. They also urged families to protect stored food and water from falling ash. People in exposed communities received guidance to use masks or damp cloths over their faces. Response teams stayed in the area to monitor conditions and support local governments.
The national volcano and weather institute, INSIVUMEH, tracked activity through field observers, sensors, cameras and satellite images. Scientists recorded pyroclastic flows in the Seca, Taniluyá, Ceniza, Las Lajas and Honda ravines. Gas, lava and ash emissions kept seismic activity elevated during the eruptive phase. Ash reached Sololá, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu and San Marcos, extending beyond the three departments placed under the red alert.
Road closures accompany volcanic emergency
Authorities closed National Route 14, an important road that passes close to Fuego volcano. The Education Ministry suspended classes in nearby communities as ash and emergency operations affected normal activity. Road crews watched access points and changing travel conditions around the mountain. La Aurora International Airport continued operating under volcanic ash procedures. Security officers also patrolled evacuated neighborhoods to protect property and help residents who had left their homes.
Rain created an additional threat because water can combine with loose ash, rocks and volcanic debris. The mixture can form lahars that move quickly through river channels and steep ravines. Officials had recorded no structural damage in the affected communities during the latest update. Mudflows also had not reached populated villages. Fuego stands about 30 kilometers south of Guatemala City and ranks among the most active volcanoes in Central America.