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Fuego Volcano Spews Ash and Mud; Guatemala on Alert
A volcano in Guatemala called Fuego, which means 'fire' in Spanish, started erupting on Monday morning.
It blew clouds of gas and ash high into the sky, with hot lava and rocks rolling down its sides.
More ash and mud came out on Tuesday.
People who live close to the volcano were asked to leave their homes to stay safe.
About 1,700 people are now staying in shelters.
Ash is falling on nearby towns, affecting about 29,000 people, and schools are closed.
Rivers of mud are sliding down the volcano, and rain could make them bigger and more dangerous.
Officials say the next 72 hours are very important.
A big road near the volcano is closed, and people are told to wear face masks and cover their water to protect themselves from the ash.
The volcano erupted very dangerously before, in 2018, when many people lost their lives.
Guatemala remained on alert after the Fuego volcano, one of Central America's most active, began erupting Monday morning, with more mud and ash emitted Tuesday.
About 1,700 people remained in shelters, with evacuations staying in place until conditions improve, according to the disaster agency CONRED.
Alert levels rose in Sacatepéquez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango, where about 29,000 people are affected by ashfall and schools remain closed; one report cited red, another orange.
Mudflows up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) long continued descending from the volcano, and incoming rain is expected to increase the risk of volcanic mudflows.
Officials closed National Route 14 and suspended classes, while about 250 people were evacuated from El Porvenir and the hamlet of Las Lajitas; no structures were reported damaged or at risk.
- Who
- Guatemala's disaster agency CONRED, its executive secretary Claudinne Ogaldes, and residents of communities near the volcano
- What
- An eruption of the Fuego volcano spewing ash, lava, mud and pyroclastic flows, prompting alert levels, evacuations and road and school closures
- Where
- Fuego volcano in Guatemala, affecting the Sacatepéquez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango areas
- When
- The eruption started Monday morning and continued with more mud and ash emitted on Tuesday
- Why
- The eruption produced pyroclastic flows, heavy ashfall and mudflows, and incoming rain is expected to increase the risk of volcanic mudflows
Key facts
- Disaster agency
- CONRED
- People in shelters
- About 1,700
- Alert level
- Red in Sacatepéquez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango (one report cited orange)
- People affected by ashfall
- About 29,000
- Mudflow length
- Up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles)
- Evacuated communities
- El Porvenir and Las Lajitas (about 250 people)
- Closed highway
- National Route 14
- Previous deadly eruption
- June 2018, hundreds killed (nearly 200 per one report) and a village destroyed
Sources
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