Guatemala says Fuego eruption has ended as evacuees begin returning home
Guatemalan authorities said the eruption of Fuego volcano has ended after about 50 hours of activity, allowing more than 1,700 evacuated residents to return home. The announcement came on Wednesday after the volcano, one of Central America's most active, had been sending lava and ash into the air since Monday. Officials said the crater, about 35 kilometres from Guatemala City, was no longer showing the same level of activity.
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The country's Institute of Volcanology said the eruption had officially ended and urged continued caution because ash remained in the area and renewed activity could not be ruled out. Conred emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes said it was now safe for people to go back, while stressing that residents should stay alert. An emergency services spokesperson also said some evacuees had already returned voluntarily before the formal all-clear.
The eruption had prompted evacuations in areas near Escuintla and led to the highest danger alert in the departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango. Officials said lava had flowed down the volcano's slopes and ash plumes had risen as high as six kilometres, affecting nearby communities and prompting people to seek shelter. On Wednesday, the volcano appeared calmer, with only faint gas and ash emissions observed from Escuintla.
The end of the eruption matters because Fuego sits in a densely monitored part of Guatemala where volcanic activity can quickly affect homes, roads and public services. The country lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where seismic and volcanic events are frequent, and Fuego's proximity to Guatemala City makes each episode a wider public-safety concern. Emergency agencies have had to balance evacuation orders with the need to keep communities informed about ashfall, debris flows and the possibility of renewed eruptions.
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Fuego's recent history has made the latest event especially sensitive for local residents and authorities. Officials said more than 500 people were evacuated after an eruption last year, while another eruption in 2023 forced around 1,200 people to leave their homes. The volcano's deadliest eruption in 2018 killed 194 people and left 234 missing and presumed dead, underscoring why even short-lived activity draws a rapid response.
What remains unclear is how long precautions will stay in place and whether ash or weather conditions could still create problems for returning families. Authorities have warned that the volcano could erupt again at any moment, so monitoring is expected to continue. The next developments will likely focus on whether any communities face renewed evacuations and how quickly normal movement can resume around the affected departments.
Guatemalan authorities have kept the red alert in place around Fuego volcano as the eruption continues to send ash, mud, lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes. Officials said about 1,700 people are now in shelters after evacuations from villages near the volcano, which erupted earlier in the week and remained active on Wednesday. The latest measures also include road closures and school suspensions in nearby areas.
The country's disaster agency said the danger warning level has been raised to red in three municipalities: Sacatepequez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango. Officials warned that the next 72 hours are critical because forecast rain could worsen mudflows, with some already stretching up to 7 km from the volcano. Conred's executive director, Claudinne Ogaldes, advised residents in the affected areas to cover water storage containers and use face masks because of ashfall.
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The eruption has affected about 29,000 people through ashfall, according to officials, although no mudflows have reached villages and no structures have been reported damaged so far. National Route 14, a major highway near the volcano, has been closed, adding to the disruption in a region where transport links are important for local communities and emergency access. Schools in nearby towns have also been suspended while authorities continue to monitor conditions.
The situation matters because Fuego is one of Central America's most active volcanoes and has repeatedly forced evacuations in recent years. Guatemala sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic and seismic activity is frequent, and eruptions can quickly affect populated areas, roads and public services. The current response shows how emergency agencies must balance immediate evacuations with longer periods of monitoring when ash, mud and rain combine to increase the risk.
Fuego's recent history has made each new eruption a national concern. Officials said last year's eruption forced more than 500 people into shelters, while a 2023 eruption displaced about 1,200 residents. The deadliest eruption in 2018 buried the villages of San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo under hot ash and left 194 people confirmed dead, with 234 others missing and presumed dead.
What remains unclear is how long the red alert will stay in place and whether the weather will intensify the mudflow risk over the coming days. Authorities have said evacuations will remain in place until conditions improve, but they have not given a full damage assessment. The next updates are likely to focus on rainfall, ashfall, road access and whether any additional communities need to move.
Guatemalan authorities have evacuated hundreds of people after Fuego volcano erupted, sending lava fountains and pyroclastic flows into ravines near the mountain. The disaster management agency said 659 people were moved from eight villages to nearby shelters, with about 10 more communities expected to be evacuated. Officials also raised the alert level to red as the situation developed.
Footage from the eruption showed a lava fountain rising nearly 500 metres high, while a major highway near the volcano was closed and classes were suspended in nearby towns. The volcano is one of Central America's most active, and the latest activity has prompted a wider emergency response as officials monitor the risk to surrounding communities. The evacuation effort reflects the speed with which conditions can change on Fuego's slopes, where ash, lava and debris flows can threaten settlements with little warning.
The eruption is significant because Fuego has a history of destructive activity, including a deadly 2018 eruption that killed hundreds and destroyed a village. That disaster also affected up to 1.7 million people, underlining the wider public-safety impact when the volcano becomes active. The current response shows why authorities treat Fuego as a national emergency issue, not only a local one, given its proximity to populated areas and key transport routes.
What remains unclear is how long the red alert will stay in place and whether the eruption will intensify further or begin to ease. Authorities have not yet given a full damage assessment, and it is not yet clear how many additional communities will need to move. Monitoring is continuing, with officials watching for changes in lava output, pyroclastic flows and any further disruption to roads and schools.
Guatemalan authorities have kept the country's second-highest emergency alert in place after Fuego volcano erupted and intensified through the day, sending lava and ash into the air. Officials evacuated two villages near the volcano as the eruption developed, with emergency teams warning residents to follow evacuation orders and self-evacuate if conditions became dangerous. The volcano is located roughly 35 to 40 kilometres from Guatemala City, placing a large population centre within the wider risk zone.
The disaster agency Conred said the orange danger alert applies nationwide, while the Institute of Volcanology warned that Fuego was "moving towards a more explosive phase". Officials said ash plumes rose to about six kilometres, or more than 6,000 metres, and that ashfall was affecting nearby communities. The agency also warned of hot volcanic debris flows down the volcano's slopes, with communities on the western and southern flanks facing the greatest risk.
The eruption has renewed concern because Fuego is Central America's most active volcano and has repeatedly forced evacuations in recent years. More than 500 people were moved to shelters after an eruption last year, and around 1,200 people were displaced in 2023. The volcano's history also includes a deadly 2018 eruption that buried the villages of San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo under hot ash and volcanic material, killing 194 people according to one account and leaving 234 missing and presumed dead.
The latest alert matters beyond the immediate evacuation area because it affects transport, schooling and emergency planning in a country that sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Guatemala experiences frequent volcanic and seismic activity, and Fuego's proximity to the capital makes each eruption a national public-safety issue. The current response shows how quickly authorities must act when ash, lava and debris flows threaten communities on the volcano's slopes.
The confirmed measures so far include evacuations, a nationwide orange alert and public warnings from emergency officials. Footage released by emergency services showed red clouds and lava flowing down the 3,763-metre volcano, underlining the scale of the eruption. The alert level remains one step below the highest red warning, which would indicate the most serious emergency.
What remains unclear is whether the eruption will continue to intensify or begin to ease, and how many people may ultimately be affected. Authorities have not yet given a full assessment of the total number of evacuees or the extent of damage to homes, roads or farmland. Monitoring is continuing, and further updates are expected as officials track ash, lava and debris flows around the volcano.
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