Photos: Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupts, forcing evacuations

Central America's most active volcano, Fuego, underwent a major eruption on Monday morning that intensified significantly by evening. Guatemalan authorities responded by raising the national alert level to the second-highest tier, stopping just short of the maximum red alert designation. The volcano, situated approximately 35 kilometres southwest of Guatemala City, ejected massive ash columns reaching heights exceeding 6,000 metres and generated substantial lava flows down its slopes.

Evacuation efforts began immediately, with officials removing residents from two villages in the immediate vicinity. The country's Institute of Volcanology issued warnings that the volcano was transitioning into a more destructive phase, with particular concern for communities positioned on the western and southern flanks facing the greatest risk from hot volcanic debris flows.

Guatemala's location within the Pacific Ring of Fire makes volcanic activity a recurring hazard. Historical precedent underscores the danger: a 2018 eruption killed 215 people and left many others missing, while a 2023 event displaced approximately 1,200 residents. The previous year's eruption of Fuego alone forced more than 500 people to evacuate their homes.