In brief
The Fuego volcano in Guatemala surged on Monday, pushing authorities to raise the emergency status to an orange alert. Approximately 400 people were evacuated from surrounding communities and moved to temporary shelters in Alotenango and Escuintla. Schools close to the volcano were shut down to protect students from ashfall. Evacuation instructions came after a historic 2018 eruption that killed several hundred individuals.
The Fuego volcano, located between the Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez regions, saw a steep rise in activity on Monday. In response, Guatemalan officials issued an orange alert – the second highest level on the country’s emergency scale.
Around four hundred residents were evacuated from villages near the volcano and relocated to temporary shelters in Alotenango and the city of Escuintla. Schools in the vicinity were closed to safeguard children from potential ashfall.
Emergency services urged residents to leave their homes for safety. The volcano’s violent eruption in 2018 left hundreds dead, reminding authorities and the public of the dangers of this active stratovolcano.
Fuego sits sixteen kilometres west of Antigua, a popular tourist enclave known for its colonial‑era architecture. The volcano’s frequent activity has also attracted hikers seeking to witness the dramatic landscape.
For more detailed coverage, see Guatemala volcano eruption sends lava spewing into the air.
