Watch | Mass evacuation in Guatemala after Fuego volcano spews lava, rocks

The 3,763-metre Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire (Volcán de Fuego), one of the most active in Central America, recently erupted. The explosion released ash and lava into the atmosphere, prompting evacuation and increasing concerns about additional damage.The volcano exploded nearly 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the capital, Guatemala City. The eruption called for the evacuation of about 1,000 residents, with another 30,000 people in the vicinity potentially at risk. It spewed gas and ash into the sky, forcing the closure of surrounding schools and a major road.
Additionally, police and soldiers have also blocked pathways, preventing tourists from entering the region. There were no reports of casualties.
The eruption was declared over by night and evacuees were allowed to return to their homes.An X user posted the footage of the volcanic eruption, writing, “Fuego volcano eruption, mountaineers at the summit record the eruption, CONRED declared an Orange State of institutional alert in Guatemala.” The clip shows a dense cloud of ash rising into the atmosphere, punctuated by the flaming light of lava flows descending the slopes.

Watch the video here:

???? Eruption volcano of fire?#rash #volCandefuego #volcanacatenango #Climate #ClimaGT #volcano #Sacatepéquez #Escuintla #Chimaltenango #Guatemala #America pic.twitter.com/ezHEkskMy8

– Juan Cos Ambrosio (@juancosambrosio) March 10, 2025

Earlier, Claudinne Ugalde, secretary of the disaster agency, said, “Some 30,000 people more or less are at risk in these three (jurisdictions) and we are trying to have them evacuate or self-evacuate.”According to Guatemala’s Conred disaster centre, the volcano, known as Fuego (Spanish word for ‘fire’), was spewing ‘pyroclastic flows,’ a high-temperature combination of gas, ash, and rock fragments, “through the ravines of the volcanic complex”, CBS News reported.

Isaac García, a 43-year-old resident of El Porvenir on the volcano’s slopes, heeded officials’ advice to flee on Monday morning. “We were concerned because the volcano became active a few years ago,” García explained, referring to the 2018 eruption. The 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left 234 missing.

“We heard the rumblings and then a strong eruption. We have faith in God … that the activity of the volcano will calm down soon,” Manuel Cobox told AFP after leaving his home.

Authorities had been watching pyroclastic flows, which are fast-moving currents of hot ash, gas, and rock fragments that descend a volcano’s slopes, according to Conred spokeswoman Laureano. The Volcanology Institute advised aviation traffic to take precautions due to a spreading ash cloud.

In addition to this, Guatemala also has two other active volcanoes: Pacaya in the south and Santiaguito in the west of the country.

The Fuego volcano normally erupts once every four to five years. The last eruption occurred in June 2023. Over 1,000 people were evacuated at the time.