Pressmediaofindia
Related Articles
09-06-2025
GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemala’s most active volcano has erupted again, prompting hundreds to flee.
On Friday, more than 700 people were evacuated from their homes as the Fuego volcano shot plumes of ash as high as 3 miles into the atmosphere. The evacuations followed a notice from the seismology agency INSIVUMEH that a stream of lava was forming around the volcano’s crater.
Residents of Escuintla, Sacatepequez, El Porvenir, and Chimaltenango were among those evacuated as a precaution. Those evacuated spent 30 hours in nearby shelters, waiting for the volcanic event to end.
Those who were evacuated noted that it was a bit of an inconvenience but keeping the lives of loved ones safe was of the utmost importance.
Residents who have lived in Guatemala for any period of time remember the volcanic tragedy the Fuego volcano caused in 2018.
In 2018, residents of small towns near the volcano were no strangers to Fuego erupting. While there were signs that the volcano was going to erupt, there were no signs of what was to come.
The eruption from the stratovolcano shot lava, ash, and rock into the air. The combination of the three, along with hot ash and gases, formed pyroclastic flow. It was the pyroclastic flow that led to 219 deaths and countless other injuries.
Pyroclastic flow is capable of rushing down the sides of a volcano at more than 50 miles per hour. Additionally, the temperature of the flow can range between 390°F and 1300°F. Consequently, everything the pyroclastic flow touches is destroyed.
In the aftermath of the eruption, it was clear just how surprised the residents of the villages of San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo were, as those who perished were found in and near their homes. The pyroclastic flow overtook them before they could escape.
Those who experienced the eruption firsthand or had loved ones who died recognize just how deadly the Fuego volcano can be and take the warnings seriously, given the volcano is so incredibly active.
The Fuego volcano is the most active volcano in Central America. In the last several years, there have been more than a handful of eruptions, forcing people to flee their homes as lava, steam, and ash flow into the air.
Since 1524, the Fuego volcano has erupted more than 60 times. While not all the eruptions are massive, they are a reminder of just how active the region Guatemala sits on is. This is because the country is located above the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Ring of Fire is home to between 750 to 915 active and dormant volcanoes. This number equates to the region being responsible for 75% of the world’s active volcanic activity. This occurs as the Nazca oceanic plate drives itself under the South American continental plate. The more activity in this subduction zone, the more magma is pushed to the Earth’s surface, creating lava and volcanic activity.
Thanks to scientists monitoring Fuego and other volcanoes, the goal is to warn those living near them to evacuate before the worst of the volcano explodes. Those who have lived through several of Fuego’s recent volcanic explosions recognize the real threat the volcano poses and are happy to leave, not only to save their own lives but also to protect those of their loved ones.
Ash clouds could reach altitudes of between 3,000 and 7,000 metres (2 to 4 miles) with the potential to affect air navigation, according to reports.
The 3,763-meter (12,350-foot) Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, resulting in several mass evacuations in recent years due to eruptions, including the most recent in March. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
