State of emergency declared in Guatemala due to powerful eruption of one of the most dangerous volcanoes
Kyiv • UNN
Guatemala has declared an orange alert level due to the eruption of the Fuego volcano, which is spewing lava and ash. Authorities have begun evacuating residents from villages near the volcano.
Guatemala has declared the second-highest level of emergency after a powerful eruption of the Fuego volcano, one of the most active and dangerous in Central America. This is reported by Mirror, writes UNN.
Details
The volcano began erupting on Monday morning, and by evening its activity had significantly increased. Fuego is spewing molten lava, as well as huge columns of ash and smoke, posing a threat to surrounding populated areas.
Due to the danger, the country's authorities have declared an orange alert level throughout Guatemala and have begun evacuating residents from areas near the volcano. In particular, people are being moved from the villages of El Porvenir and Las Lajitas in the municipality of San Juan Alotenango.
Eruption intensifying
Guatemala's National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) reported that the volcano's activity continues to increase.
The eruption is increasing its explosivity. A fountain of lava 200 to 300 meters high has formed above the crater, scattering hot material on all sides of the volcano
In turn, the National Emergency Agency Conred reported that the evacuation is being carried out as a preventive measure to protect the local population.
Reference
The Fuego volcano, 3,768 meters high, is a stratovolcano and is considered one of the most active in Guatemala. The current eruption is already the ninth powerful one since 2015.
The largest-scale eruption of Fuego occurred on June 3, 2018. At that time, 159 people died, about 300 were injured, and nearly 250 people were considered missing.