Guatemalan authorities raised the country's emergency alert to its second-highest level on Monday evening after a major eruption of the Fuego volcano, the most active in Central America. The orange alert, which signals danger, was announced by the national disaster coordination agency Conred on social media, as officials began evacuating two villages near the volcano, located roughly 35 kilometres from the capital, Guatemala City.
Fuego, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, has a long history of violent activity. In recent years, its eruptions have repeatedly forced mass evacuations, with communities living on its slopes particularly vulnerable to fast-moving pyroclastic flows and ash falls.
Evacuations and disruptions
According to Conred, the latest eruption prompted the evacuation of residents from the two settlements closest to the crater. The government also suspended school activities in the affected area and closed a key road linking the south of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with tourists.
Last year, more than 500 people were moved to shelters after Fuego spewed gas and ash, and in 2023 an earlier eruption led to the evacuation of around 1,200 people. The 2018 disaster remains the deadliest in recent memory: rivers of lava poured down the volcano's slopes, killing 215 people and leaving a similar number missing, devastating the village of San Miguel Los Lotes.
Guatemala's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire means it experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The country's authorities have developed a well-rehearsed response protocol, but the scale of each eruption varies, and the threat to life and infrastructure remains constant.
While the immediate focus is on protecting local communities, the eruption also has wider implications for the region's travel and logistics. Antigua, a magnet for international visitors, is now cut off from the south by the road closure, and flights in and out of Guatemala City could be affected if ash clouds drift towards the airport.
European travellers planning trips to Guatemala should monitor the situation closely. The country's disaster agencies are providing regular updates, and the orange alert suggests that further eruptions are possible in the coming days.
This event is a stark reminder of the power of natural forces, and it echoes similar challenges faced across the globe, from wildfires near Athens to heatwaves forcing alerts in Spain and France. While the causes differ, the need for robust emergency planning and international solidarity is universal.
As the situation develops, Conred has urged residents to follow official instructions and avoid the danger zone. The agency's priority is to ensure the safety of those living in the shadow of Fuego, a volcano that has shaped both the landscape and the lives of Guatemalans for centuries.
