Guatemala remains on alert due to the eruption of the Fuego volcano

Civil protection authorities of the city Guatemala declared an institutional alert this Thursday due to an increase in eruptions and lava flows in the volcano’s ravines Fire.

The Fuego volcano, located 60 kilometers south of the capital of Guatemala, continues to erupt with the release of ash and gases at an altitude of 5,500 meters above sea level, according to the latest report published by National Institute for Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh).

The volcanic activity caused multiple seismic movements in the surrounding communities and movement of lava in a length of 800 meters in some barracks of the colossus, according to the same source.

ROAD CLOSED

Vehicular traffic on Route 14, the highway that connects the departments (provinces) of Escuintla and Sacatepequezin southern Guatemala, is completely closed due to volcanic activity, according to National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).

In addition, Conrad recommended the preventive evacuation of communities in the south and east of the volcano, especially in the towns surrounding the municipality. San Pedro Yepocapafrom the department of Chimaltenango.

On its part, Guatemala Civil Aeronautics Authority decided to limit some air routes to 40 nautical miles around the volcano, as a preventive measure.

Volcanic activity could continue for the rest of the day, with authorities warning that rain is expected in the afternoon, which could cause pyroclastic material to fall into any of the colossus’ huts.

The Fuego volcano is constantly active in Guatemala, and its last powerful eruption was on June 3, 2018, when, according to official data, 431 people died and went missing.