Guatemala urgently evacuates more than 1,000 people due to violent volcanic eruption

People were evacuated on May 4.

AFP today, May 5, quoted General Oscar Cossio, Executive Secretary of the Guatemalan National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), saying that a total of 1,054 people from five communities near the foot of the volcano were evacuated and moved to a gymnasium for temporary shelter.

General Cossio predicted the number of evacuees would increase as authorities continue to analyze the situation and take next steps.

According to CONRED, the Fuego volcano, which means “fire” in Spanish, erupted on May 4 with lava flows and released a column of ash up to 6,000 meters above sea level.

The ash plumes fell on the western and southwestern sides of the volcano, in the opposite direction to the capital Guatemala City, 35 km northeast of the volcano.

CONRED warned that the eruptions would continue to intensify, and that rain was forecast soon, raising the risk of mudslides.

Police block off RN-14

Agency official Rodolfo Garcia estimated that about 130,000 people live within the ash fall zone, about 100 kilometers from the crater.

A total of 13 emergency shelters have taken in evacuees. These centers have a capacity of about 7,600 people.

Authorities decided to close the RN-14 road on the slopes of Fuego Mountain and connecting several towns with the city of Antigua, Guatemala's main tourist destination and a UNESCO world heritage site.

People living in the affected area are advised to follow instructions closely and evacuate promptly as ordered. Locals and tourists are also advised to stay away from a 7km radius around the volcano.

In December 2022, lava and ash eruptions from the volcano forced Guatemalan authorities to temporarily close the country's largest airport.

Fuego volcano is 3,763 m high and erupts on average every 4 or 5 years.

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