The Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala

MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Fuego volcano, one of the three active ones in Guatemala, has erupted again after an increase in its activity in recent days, as confirmed by the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala (INSIVUMEH).

"The Fuego volcano presented an increase in its activity and in the last few minutes it has entered an eruption phase," he said through his account on the social network Twitter, before detailing that "constant explosions are observed in the crater weak, moderate and strong".

Thus, he pointed to the existence of "an incandescent source 400 meters high" and added that "the ash column reaches 5,000 meters above sea level, dispersing 30 kilometers to the west and northwest."

"In the Ceniza ravine, the lava flow is maintained with a length of 800 meters and in front of it constant avalanches are generated that reach the edge of the vegetation," he explained, while pointing out that "the eruption is mostly effusive, accompanied by incandescent pulses from the lava fountain".

"This can also generate new lava flows towards more ravines, as well as produce violent ash-laden explosions that generate pyroclastic flows mainly towards the Ceniza, Las Lajas and Seca ravines, as well as any of the other ravines of the Fuego volcano."

For this reason, the agency has stressed that "one should not stay near or within the ravines of the volcano" and has warned that "due to the direction of the wind, ash falls may be recorded to the northwest of the volcano, in communities of the municipalities of Acatenango, Yepocapa and Patzicia".

The Guatemalan authorities have not yet ruled on possible victims. In June 2018, a powerful eruption triggered an avalanche that devastated the community of San Miguel Los Lotes and part of a highway in the neighboring town of Alotenango, leaving 215 dead and hundreds missing.