The Volcán de Fuego, which is Spanish for “Volcano of Fire,” has erupted yet again, forcing thousands of Guatemalans to flee from their homes.
The most dangerous volcano in Guatemala and one of the most active volcanoes in all of Central America, the Volcano of Fire began acting up overnight, putting the country on Red Alert. Observations of the volcano have given off warning signs throughout the month of November, but it reached a boiling point today. Authorities have asked residents from 10 nearby communities to evacuate in order to ensure their safety. Initially, 2,000 residents have fled their homes, but that number has since increased to over 4,000.
As of now, there appear to be no casualties, which is a relief. Back in June, the Volcano of Fire caused the worst volcano-related natural disaster in Guatemala since 1929. The volcano erupted suddenly, and left residents with no chance to flee preemptively. The official casualty count from the June eruption sits at over 150 killed, 57 injured, and 256 confirmed missing. However, local residents and organizations estimate as many as 2,000 people may have been buried alive.
The full extent of the damage from this eruption has yet to be determined.
