Central America's most active volcano erupts

Guatemala has declared an orange alert due to an eruption from the Fuego volcano, one of Central America's most active. The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred) announced the alert via the platform 'X,' initiating the evacuation of two villages situated just 35 kilometers from the capital, Guatemala City.

This is not the first time Fuego has forced mass evacuations. The volcano's frequent activity is attributed to Guatemala's location atop the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for high seismic and volcanic activity. In recent years, residents have repeatedly been displaced by its eruptions.

Last year, authorities evacuated over 500 people from communities near Fuego's crater after it spewed gas and ash. The government also suspended local school operations and closed a key road connecting the country's south to the UNESCO World Heritage colonial city of Antigua. Another significant eruption in 2023, which sent volcanic material over 3.7 kilometers high, required the evacuation of approximately 1,200 people.

The most devastating eruption occurred in 2018, when Fuego unleashed pyroclastic flows that destroyed a village, resulting in 215 deaths and 215 disappearances. The volcano's persistent activity continues to pose a significant risk to surrounding populations.