Central America's most active volcano erupted Monday morning, with conditions intensifying by nightfall and prompting authorities to issue the country's second-most severe alert warning.Rivers of lava streamed down the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano located less than 100 kilometers from Guatemala City, while ash rose some six kilometers into the red sky."Since early morning it was active. That night, the alarm was raised that we needed to evacuate," local resident Alejandro Garcia, 68, told AFP.Villagers left of their own accord out of fear, Garcia said, describing terrifying scenes of lava tumbling down the mountainside.
Guatemala’s Institute of Volcanology warned that the Fuego eruption might intensify © Johan ORDONEZ / AFP
Firefighters said they transported at least 350 residents of the El Porvenir and Las Lajitas villages to the eastward San Juan Alotenango municipality.Evacuees are staying in a community hall where makeshift beds have been set up, while the number of people taken to other nearby towns remains unknown."If there were any chance of moving to a different house, it would be better, because you're always afraid since the volcano doesn't give any warning," Lidia Ortiz, 40, told AFP at the shelter.Escuintla to the south was sheltering dozens more families, including children, local authorities reported.'Too much'"If an evacuation is ordered or conditions pose a risk to your life, follow the principle of self-evacuation," Conred spokesperson Valeria Urizar said in a video posted on social media.The country's Institute of Volcanology warned of hot volcanic debris flows down Fuego's slopes, with communities on the western and southern flanks at the greatest risk.Fuego had been erupting for 23 hours straight by Tuesday morning, it said, although the intensity was easing slightly."We've already gotten used to having the volcano constantly active, but this time it was really too much," 50-year-old resident Sonia Vasquez told AFP.
