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Guatemala declares orange alert as Fuego volcano eruption prompts mass evacuations of nearby villages

Guatemala has declared a nationwide orange alert following a major eruption of the Fuego volcano, Central America's most active volcano. The eruption began on Monday morning and intensified by nightfall, sending plumes of ash nearly four miles into the sky and creating rivers of lava flowing down the 3,763-metre-high mountain. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of two villages, El Porvenir and Las Lajitas, as a preventive measure. The disaster coordination agency, CONRED, reported that approximately 250 people were moved to shelters in nearby municipalities. To mitigate risks, the Education Ministry suspended face-to-face classes in nearby towns, and traffic police closed a major highway encircling the mountain range. The Institute of Volcanology warned that the volcano is moving toward a more explosive phase, with communities on the western and southern flanks at the greatest risk. While the eruption has caused significant activity, it has not yet impacted the capital's international airport. The volcano is located less than 100 kilometres from Guatemala City.

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