Guatemala's Institute of Volcanology officially reported on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, that the eruption of the Fuego volcano had 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 crater is located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City. National experts confirmed that volcanic activity ceased two days after it began. The Institute of Volcanology recommended that residents remain cautious due to the presence of large quantities of ash and the risk of burning debris flows.

Guatemalan emergency services declared it safe for evacuated residents to return home following the eruption's end. Claudine Ogaldes, director of the Conred emergency services, stated at a press conference, "It is now safe to return." However, she urged communities to continue taking precautions, warning that "at any moment it could erupt again."

Ogaldes emphasized that authorities are no longer calling for evacuations but remain vigilant. A local resident told AFP, "We live alongside the volcano. We know when it gets angry and when it's calm."

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

Sources