Hundreds of people living on the slopes of Guatemala's Fuego volcano evacuated their homes Tuesday after a huge eruption spewed lava and plumes of ash. Emergency services issued a red alert, the most severe warning, after Central America's most active volcano erupted Monday morning, with conditions intensifying by nightfall. Rivers of lava streamed down the 3,763-metre (12,346-foot) volcano located less than 100 kilometres from Guatemala City, while ash rose some six kilometres 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 oozing down the mountainside.
Guatemala’s Institute of Volcanology warned that the Fuego eruption might intensify. © Johan Ordonez, AFP
Firefighters said they transported at least 500 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' The red alert applies to the Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla areas, with a population of 1.6 million. Emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes called on at-risk families to come to shelters voluntarily. "In those spaces, you will find care, support and safe conditions while the volcanic activity continues," she wrote on X.
