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Guatemala's Fuego volcano intensifies, prompts preventive evacuations

August 4, 2026 10:24 AM EDT

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts, after authorities raised the alert level to orange, as seen from San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala, August 4, 2026. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin

GUATEMALA CITY, ‌Aug 4 (Reuters) - ​Guatemalan ​authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of two communities near the ‌Fuego volcano late on Monday as ⁠it entered a more intense eruptive phase, ‌spewing ash and ‌sending pyroclastic flows down its slopes.

The eruption sent pyroclastic flows — fast-moving mixtures ​of volcanic gas, ash and rock — down five ravines, disaster management ⁠officials said.

• The evacuations were ordered in the areas ​of El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, both in the municipality of ​San Juan Alotenango.

• ‌Officials on Tuesday warned the flows could travel further if ⁠activity intensifies.

• Ash cloud dispersal could affect areas up to 100 km (62 miles) ⁠west and northwest of the volcano.

• Authorities ​on Tuesday declared an "orange alert" and stepped up monitoring of the volcano.

• A major eruption ‌in 2018 of the Fuego volcano, about 30 km (19 miles) ‌south of Guatemala City, buried ⁠an entire community ‌and killed more ​than 200 people.

(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez, Eiditing by Iñigo ‌Alexander)



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