Guatemala volcano eruption forces hundreds to flee ash, gas and lava

Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted starting Monday, sending gas, ash, lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes, prompting authorities to raise the danger alert to red in the municipalities of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla. About 1,700 people were evacuated and remained in shelters as of Tuesday, with roughly 29,000 people affected by ashfall in the red-alert zone. Guatemala's disaster agency CONRED reported mudflows up to 7 kilometers long continuing to descend from the volcano, and warned that incoming rain over the following 72 hours could trigger additional mudflows; officials said mudflows had not yet reached villages and no structures were reported damaged. Authorities closed National Route 14 near the volcano and the Education Ministry suspended classes in nearby towns, while CONRED's executive secretary advised residents in the affected municipalities to cover water deposits and use face masks. A 2018 eruption of Fuego killed 194 confirmed dead with 234 missing and presumed dead after burying the villages of San Miguel Los Lotes and El Rodeo.