Fuego Eruption Forces Mass Evacuations
Thousands of people remain on alert in Guatemala as the Fuego volcano continues to erupt, forcing evacuations and disrupting communities near the mountain.
About 1,700 people remain in emergency shelters, while authorities say evacuation orders will stay in place until conditions improve.
Red alerts have been issued for three provinces, where nearly 29,000 people have been affected by ashfall.
Emergency officials warn that the next 72 hours will be critical as rainfall could trigger dangerous volcanic mudflows.
The eruption began on Monday, sending ash, gas, lava and pyroclastic flows down the volcano’s slopes, with more ash and mud continuing to pour from the volcano on Tuesday.
A major highway has been closed, classes have been suspended in nearby communities, and residents have been urged to wear face masks and protect their water supplies from falling ash.
The Fuego volcano was responsible for one of Guatemala’s deadliest natural disasters in 2018, when an eruption killed hundreds of people and destroyed an entire village.
