Volcano Erupts in Guatemala, Thousands Evacuate

Guatemala's twin volcanoes, Fuego (left) and Acatenango (right) seen in a photo from 1988. CREDIT: Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution) View full size image

Guatemala's Fuego volcano has erupted, causing thousands to evacuate the surrounding region, according to news reports.

The country's head of emergency evacuations, Sergio Cabanas, told the Associated Press that some 33,000 people were fleeing villages around the volcano, which overlooks the colonial city of Antigua.

Pictures and video showed the volcano billowing with plumes of ash and smoke and the AP reported that lava was flowing nearly 2,000 feet (600 meters) down its slopes.

The 12,346-foot-high (3,763-meter) Fuego volcano is one of Central America's most active volcanoes and geologists have observed several smaller explosions there throughout this month.

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