The Volcano of Fire, which in 2018 caused an avalanche that caused 215 deaths in Guatemala, began this Saturday (10) a new phase of eruption with explosions, ejection of ash and lava flow, authorities announced.
“The Volcano of Fire showed an increase in its activity and in the last few minutes it entered the eruption phase (…). The eruption is mainly effusive, accompanied by incandescent pulses from the source of lava”, reported the Institute of Volcanology (Insivumeh) in a newsletter.
According to the institution, the eruption of the volcano, 3,763 meters high and located 35 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City, generates “constant weak, moderate and strong explosions”.
It also causes an “incandescent source” of lava that exceeds 500 meters above the crater and an ash column that rises more than 1 km from the top of the volcano, located between the departments (provinces) of Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez, added the Insivumeh.
So far, preventive evacuations have not been ordered in nearby communities, according to Rodolfo García, spokesman for the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the entity responsible for civil defense.
García explained that he is in communication with the authorities of the populated areas close to the volcano in view of the possible rain of ash northwest of the volcanic cone, in addition to the risk of a lava flow of about 800 meters down a hill.
An eruption of Volcano de Fuego on June 3, 2018 triggered an avalanche of incandescent material that devastated the San Miguel Los Lotes community in Escuintla and part of a road in Sacatepéquez, leaving 215 dead and a similar number missing.
Along with Volcano de Fuego, Santiaguito (west) and Pacaya (south) volcanoes are also active in Guatemala.
Largest active volcano no longer a threat
Meanwhile, another volcano, Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, decreased its activity this Saturday (10) and is no longer a threat, said the Hawaii Volcano Observatory of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which downgraded its level of alert to observation—meaning there is an eruption in progress, but with limited risks.
The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa began erupting in late November for the first time since 1984, ending its longest period of silence in recorded history.
The volcano’s behavior suggests the eruption could soon end, experts say.
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