Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala caused a red alert to be declared

Volcán de Fuego, located 50 kilometers from the capital of Guatemala, has entered a critical phase of activity with magma emissions, high gas columns and ash. According to the seismological service Insivumeh, pyroclastic flows have advanced up to seven kilometers down the slopes, and ash falls have been recorded 130 kilometers south and southwest of the crater.

The impact of the elements directly affected 18 settlements in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla. The disaster management agency Conred raised the danger level from orange to red and placed more than 1,400 evacuated residents in five municipal shelters. The total number of people affected by the eruption is about 29,000.

Ministerio de Comunicaciones has closed the national road along the foot of the peak to ensure safety and clear the way for special equipment, and educational institutions in the risk zone have suspended in-person classes. The situation threatens to worsen due to forecasted rains that could wash the red-hot debris down mountain gorges in the form of powerful lahars.