Claudinne Ogaldes confirms evacuations in Guatemala as the Fuego volcano erupts, threatening nearby communities.
Authorities in Guatemala have ordered the evacuation of approximately 250 people from two villages near the Fuego volcano following a significant eruption on Monday. Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the Guatemalan disaster managing agency, CONRED, confirmed that the eruption began in the morning and intensified throughout the day, producing lava fountains reaching up to 1,000 feet. CONRED declared an orange alert and evacuated the villages of El Porvenir and Las Lajitas as a preventive measure. The eruption has caused the closure of National Route 14 and the led suspension of Education Ministry classes in nearby towns. The Fuego volcano is one of the most active in the country. A major eruption in June 2018 destroyed a village and killed hundreds of people, affecting nearly 1.7 million residents. The current activity has prompted similar preventive measures to avoid the impact of spreading ash and pyroclastic flows.