Fuego Volcano Erupts, Ash and Lava Spread; 1,700 Sheltered in Guatemala

Emergency services in Guatemala issued a red alert, the highest level of warning, after the country's most active volcano, Volcán de Fuego, erupted on Monday morning. The eruption produced a towering ash plume that rose more than 10 kilometres into the atmosphere and sent volcanic bombs and lava fragments down the slopes, prompting the immediate evacuation of several villages in the municipality of Alotenango and surrounding areas. Authorities closed the main highway linking Guatemala City to the western highlands, halted flights at nearby La Aurora International Airport, and deployed military units to assist with rescue operations and distribution of emergency supplies.

By nightfall, seismic activity and gas emissions intensified, prompting officials to maintain the red alert and expand the exclusion zone to a 10‑kilometre radius around the crater. The National Institute for Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) warned that further eruptions could occur without additional warning, urging residents to remain in shelters and monitor official communications. Monitoring teams continue to track the volcano's behavior, and the red alert will stay in effect until conditions are deemed safe for a phased return of displaced communities.