Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology reported on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, that the eruption of the Fuego volcano had officially ended after 50 hours of activity. The volcano, Central America's most active, began erupting on Monday, August 4, 2026, spewing lava and ash and forcing more than 1,700 people to evacuate the surrounding area.

The volcanic activity at the crater, located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City, ceased two days after it began, according to national experts. Despite the eruption ending, the Institute of Volcanology recommended that residents maintain precautions due to large quantities of ash and the risk of burning debris flows.

Guatemalan emergency services declared it safe for evacuees to return home following the subsidence of the eruption. Claudine Ogaldes, director of the Conred emergency services, stated at a press conference, "It is now safe to return." However, she urged communities to remain vigilant, saying, "We are no longer asking people to evacuate," but warned to "take precautions, because at any moment it could erupt again."

Residents living near the volcano are familiar with its behavior. As a 61-year-old local told AFP, "We live alongside the volcano. We know when it gets angry and when it's calm."

The Fuego volcano has caused several mass evacuations in recent years, including more than 500 people last year after an eruption that released gas and ash, and around 1,200 people in 2023 following another eruption.

Sources