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

The volcanic activity, centered at a crater located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City, lasted about 50 hours. The Institute of Volcanology confirmed the eruption had ceased but recommended that residents remain cautious due to large amounts of ash and the risk of burning debris flows.

Guatemalan emergency services declared it safe for evacuees 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 the local understanding of the volcano's behavior, saying, "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 over 500 people last year after gas and ash emissions, and around 1,200 people in 2023 due to another eruption.

Sources