Volcán de Fuego Eruption: Evacuations Underway Across Three Departments
Guatemalan authorities kept emergency warnings in place on Tuesday, August 4, after the Volcán de Fuego eruption that began the previous day forced hundreds of people from their homes on the volcano's slopes. Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), said volcanic activity continues to increase and that the evacuation order remains in effect.
So far, 659 people from eight communities living around the volcano have been moved to eight shelters in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Escuintla and Chimaltenango, according to Ogaldes. Authorities expect roughly ten more communities to be evacuated over the course of the day. During the night, families were transported in buses and ambulances while the volcano sent smoke, ash and lava up to about 300 meters into the air.
Volcán de Fuego, one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes, is a 3,768-meter stratovolcano located between Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez in the southern and central parts of the country. Ogaldes warned that ash has reached the southwest region and could affect plantations, people and animals. The route running near the volcano has been closed, and the Ministry of Education suspended classes in at least three municipalities.
Officials are also coordinating care for animals that residents left behind when they evacuated. The volcano experienced an eruptive phase in June of last year that triggered preventive evacuations. A far more destructive eruption on June 3, 2018 killed hundreds of people, wiped out an entire community and affected up to 1.7 million people, according to authorities.
Why This Eruption Is Being Treated with Caution
An Active Volcano with a Deadly Recent History
The scale of the response reflects what Guatemalan authorities learned from the 2018 disaster. During that eruption, a community was buried and hundreds of people died, making it one of the deadliest events in the volcano's modern record. This time, officials are evacuating communities preemptively rather than waiting for the eruption to escalate further, which suggests the current activity is being treated as a serious threat even though the 2018-scale catastrophe is not yet being reported.
Who Is in the Affected Area
The evacuees come from villages spread across three departments where the volcano sits, an area that includes agricultural land and regular road traffic. The closure of the route near the volcano and the suspension of classes in at least three municipalities show that the disruption extends beyond the immediate evacuation zone. Local farmers and animal owners are particularly exposed, which is why authorities say they are making arrangements for livestock and pets left behind.
What the Ash Fallout Could Mean
Ash reaching the southwest of the country raises concerns for plantations in that region, though the exact scale of any damage has not yet been quantified. Volcanic ash can coat crops, contaminate water sources and pose respiratory risks to people and animals. The situation remains fluid: with activity still increasing, the number of communities affected is likely to grow before it stabilizes, and the full impact on agriculture and transport will only become clear in the coming days.
What Evacuees and Nearby Residents Should Do Now
Residents in the evacuation zone should follow CONRED's instructions and leave the area even if they choose not to go to official shelters, which are providing hot food and supplies. Those who left animals behind should coordinate with authorities handling their care. Travelers should avoid the closed route near the volcano, and families outside the immediate zone but downwind of the ash should prepare for possible ashfall by limiting outdoor exposure. No one should return home until CONRED confirms the area is safe, given that activity is still increasing.
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