In Guatemala, civil protection authorities have issued an urgent evacuation recommendation for approximately 30,000 people who are at risk due to the eruption of the Fuego volcano in the south and west of the Central American country. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) has reported that 282 families have already been sheltered in San Juan Alotenango, Sacatepéquez.
Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of Conred, warned about the increased activity of the volcano and the imminent danger facing the 30,000 residents in the provinces of Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, and Chimaltenango. Immediate evacuation of these people has been recommended to prevent damage due to the eruption of this colossus, the most active in Central America at 3,763 meters high.
To assist the evacuees, a shelter has been established in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, on the southern coast of Guatemala. So far, 125 families from nearby communities have been relocated to a municipal hall in San Juan Alotenango, as reported by Conred on its social media.
The eruption of the Fuego volcano has led to the suspension of classes in several municipalities, including Alotenango, Escuintla, Siquinalá, and San Pedro Yepocapa. Additionally, airlines have been alerted about the volcano's activity, as the ash reaches heights of up to 7,000 meters according to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivumeh).
After 50 days of inactivity, the Fuego volcano erupted again on Sunday night, according to scientific reports. The last major eruption of this volcano, located about 50 kilometers west of the capital, occurred in June 2018 and resulted in the tragic death of more than 400 people and the destruction of several towns.
