Disasters & Incidents
Fuego volcano evacuees told safe to return in Guatemala
Evacuated residents near Guatemala's Fuego volcano have been told it is safe to return home after experts declared the eruption over.
Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology said Wednesday that the eruption had ended after about 50 hours. Fuego, Central America's most active volcano, began spewing lava and ash on Monday, forcing more than 1,700 people to leave the area.
Conred emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes said authorities were no longer asking people to evacuate. “It is now safe to return,” she told a press conference, while urging communities to take precautions because the volcano could erupt again.
The volcanology institute also recommended that precautions remain in place because of large quantities of ash and the possible movement of burning debris.
An emergency services spokesperson said earlier that some evacuees had already voluntarily returned to their homes.
During the eruption, lava flowed down Fuego's slopes and ash plumes rose as high as six kilometres. Hundreds of residents took refuge in Escuintla, south of the volcano.
Conred had earlier declared the most severe danger alert in the Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango departments adjacent to the crater. Fuego is about 35 kilometres from Guatemala City.
Guatemala lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Fuego eruptions prompted evacuations in 2023 and last year. In 2018, 215 people were killed and a similar number were left missing when lava flows destroyed a village on the volcano's slopes.
Update
Guatemalan emergency services said evacuated residents could safely return home after the eruption died down.
Conred director Claudine Ogaldes said authorities were no longer asking people to evacuate.
Officials urged precautions because the volcano could erupt again.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 20:35:12 UTC.
Update
Guatemalan volcano experts declared the end of the massive eruption.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 19:38:07 UTC.
Update
Activity at Fuego volcano had died down slightly by Wednesday.
Authorities evacuated more than 1,700 local residents.
The Institute of Volcanology said eruptive activity was expected to gradually diminish.
Experts warned that sudden flows of scorching volcanic material could still occur.
Some evacuees had begun returning home voluntarily.
The most severe danger alert remained active in Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 16:24:04 UTC.
Update
Firefighters said they transported at least 500 residents of El Porvenir and Las Lajitas to San Juan Alotenango, up from the earlier 350 figure.
The volcanology institute said Fuego had been erupting for 23 hours by Tuesday morning and that intensity was easing slightly.
Police closed and later reopened a nearby road leading to Antigua.
Emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes urged at-risk families to go voluntarily to shelters.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 18:03:55 UTC.
Update
Guatemala raised the warning level from orange to red, the most severe danger alert.
The red alert applies to Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, according to emergency services.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 17:39:19 UTC.
Update
Firefighters said they transported at least 350 residents from El Porvenir and Las Lajitas to San Juan Alotenango.
Escuintla was sheltering dozens more families, including children, local authorities reported.
Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology said Fuego had been erupting for 23 hours by Tuesday morning, with intensity easing slightly.
Authorities said there had so far been no impact on the capital's international airport.
Residents described leaving because of fear after the eruption intensified.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 16:43:55 UTC.
Update
Fuego erupted on Monday morning and intensified by nightfall.
Lava flows and ash plumes rose about 6 kilometers into the air.
Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology warned the volcano was moving toward a more explosive phase.
Communities on the western and southern flanks were described as at greatest risk from hot volcanic debris flows.
Face-to-face classes were suspended in communities within two municipalities near the volcano.
Traffic police closed a road encircling the mountain range that connects the south coast with Antigua.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 07:20:39 UTC.
Update
The Guatemalan government suspended local school activities after the eruption.
Authorities closed a road linking southern Guatemala to Antigua.
The source adds recent evacuation history and the 2018 Fuego death and missing figures.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 05:05:36 UTC.
Update
Guatemala's disaster coordination agency Conred said an orange danger alert was declared nationwide.
The orange alert is one level below the highest emergency alert level.
Conred said it had begun evacuating two villages near the volcano.
Fuego is located 35 kilometers, or 22 miles, from Guatemala City.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 04:59:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Officials warned that Fuego could erupt again and that ash and burning debris could still pose risks.
Source
AFP news report published on .