Photos: Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupts, forcing evacuations | Volcanoes News
Guatemalan Authorities Issue Emergency Alert Following Fuego Volcano Eruption
Published on Aug. 4, 2026
GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan authorities have activated the country’s second-highest emergency alert level following a significant eruption of the Fuego Volcano, Central America’s most active volcano. This alert has necessitated the evacuation of nearby villages.
The eruption, which began on Monday morning, intensified as night fell, with lava flows and ash plumes rising approximately six kilometers (four miles) into the atmosphere. The current alert level is classified as orange, just one step below the highest level of red, which signifies the most severe emergencies.
Emergency officials commenced evacuations of two villages located within a 35-kilometer (22-mile) radius of Guatemala City early in the day.
The Guatemalan Institute of Volcanology released a statement warning that Fuego is moving toward a more explosive phase. Ash plumes have reached heights exceeding 6,000 meters (19,685 feet), affecting surrounding communities with ashfall.
The agency cautioned that hot volcanic debris flows could cascade down Fuego’s slopes, particularly threatening populations on its western and southern flanks.
Situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Guatemala is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Previous eruptions have led to significant evacuations; more than 500 people were displaced during an eruption last year, and another eruption in 2023 forced approximately 1,200 residents to leave their homes.
The most catastrophic eruption of Fuego in recent history occurred in 2018, when torrents of volcanic material surged down its slopes, resulting in 215 fatalities and leaving a similar number of individuals missing. The disaster caused extensive damage to a nearby village.
