The Guatemala volcano Volcan del Fuego has erupted, sending some 33,000 locals fleeing the scene.
Guatemala’s most renowned tourist attractions exploded this afternoon, spewing thick clouds of ash almost two miles into the sky and forcing mass evacuations.
Sergio Cabanas, Guatemala’s head of emergency evacuations, has stated that the evacuees were leaving about 17 villages around the Guatemala volcano, which lies approximately six miles southwest of Antigua.
The eruption spewed lava almost 2,000 feet down slopes billowing with ash around Acatenango, a volcano whose name translates as “Volcano of Fire.”
“A paroxysm of an eruption is taking place, a great volcanic eruption, with strong explosions and columns of ash,” said Gustavo Chicna, a volcanologist with the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology.
He said the cinders spewing from the Guatemala volcano were settling a half-inch thick in many areas.
Check out raw video of the massive eruption below, courtesy of the Associated Press.
Related articles
- Eruption at Guatemala volcano forces evacuations (metronews.ca)
- Eruption at Guatemala volcano forces evacuations (thenewstribune.com)
- 33,000 Fleeing Guatemala Volcano Eruption (world.time.com)
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