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 residents to evacuate the area.

The volcanic activity, centered at a crater located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City, ceased after 50 hours. The Institute of Volcanology stated, "After 50 hours...the eruption has ended," but recommended that precautions remain due to large amounts of ash and the possibility of burning debris flows.

Guatemalan emergency services declared it safe for evacuees to return home. "It is now safe to return," Conred emergency services director Claudine Ogaldes said at a press conference. She added, "We are no longer asking people to evacuate," but urged communities to "take precautions, because at any moment it could erupt again."

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

Fuego has caused several mass evacuations in recent years, including over 500 people last year and around 1,200 people in 2023 after previous eruptions.

Sources

France 24 English