Overview
- The eruption, which began on Monday, sent a 4–5 kilometer column of ash, gas and lava fragments and produced glowing lava and pyroclastic flows down the volcano’s flanks.
- Authorities raised the highest alert for three departments and evacuated between about 1,400 and 1,700 people while reporting roughly 29,000 people affected by ashfall and related impacts.
- After roughly 50 hours of activity officials on Wednesday declared the eruptive episode over but cautioned that sudden lava flows and intermittent ash emissions remain possible.
- Access to the neighboring Acatenango was closed after tourists violated ascent bans, and ash clouds stretching tens to over 100 kilometers have the potential to disrupt flights, schools and local services.
- Volcán de Fuego is one of Central America’s most active volcanoes and officials point to the deadly 2018 eruption to explain the strict evacuations, the 10-kilometer safety advice and continued round‑the‑clock monitoring.