More than a thousand residents were evacuated on Thursday in Guatemala after the eruption of the Fuego volcano. This peak, close to the capital, is home to the most active volcano in all of Central America.
The eruption began on Thursday morning and brought fiery clouds, mixtures of gas, water vapor and debris at very high temperatures that hurtle down the slopes at very high speed. To protect the population, a total of 1,054 people living in five nearby villages have been evacuated, said the director of the Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
🌋 Entra en erupción el volcán de Fuego, in Guatemala#volcandefuego #volcanespic.twitter.com/RHzI3MA8Cb
— Noticias TerraGea (@TerraGeaNews) May 4, 2023
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A column of ash 6,000 m high
According to Conred, about 130,000 people live under the threat of the Fuego volcano, a colossus of 3,763 m above sea level located 35 km from the capital Guatemala. On Thursday evening, however, the director general of Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology announced a "decrease in the activity of the volcano". Earlier, Conred said the eruptive column, composed of gas and ash, rose up to 6,000 m above sea level.
The last eruption of the Fuego volcano dates back to December 2022. Guatemala City's international airport and a busy tourist route had to be closed. The passage on this famous road was also interrupted this Thursday. In Guatemala two other volcanoes are active: those of Santiaguito (west of the country) and Pacaya (south).
- Volcano
- Guatemala
- Evacuation
- Natural disaster
- World