Guatemalan authorities announced on Wednesday, August 6th, 2026, that the eruption of the Fuego volcano had officially ended after 50 hours of activity. The Institute of Volcanology reported that the volcano, Central America's most active and located 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City, ceased eruptive activity two days after it began on Monday.

The eruption forced more than 1,700 residents to evacuate the surrounding areas. Emergency services declared it safe for those displaced to return home following the cessation of volcanic activity. "It is now safe to return," Conred emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes said at a press conference. However, she cautioned communities to remain vigilant, stating, "We are no longer asking people to evacuate," but urged residents to "take precautions, because at any moment it could erupt again."

Locals, who live alongside the volcano, expressed familiarity with its behavior. "We know when it gets angry and when it's calm," a 61-year-old resident told AFP.

The Fuego volcano has caused several mass evacuations in recent years, including over 500 people last year and around 1,200 in 2023 due to eruptions spewing gas and ash.

Sources