Volcanic eruptions trigger air traffic warning in Guatemala | National

One of Central America’s most active volcanoes spewed gas and ash on Sunday, prompting Guatemalan authorities to warn air traffic and tourists to take special precautions.

The volcano, named Fuego – 35 kilometers from the capital Guatemala City – experienced “weak and moderate explosions with a frequency of four to seven per hour,” said the Institute of Volcanology (Insivumeh).

A statement added that the explosions created columns of gas and ash at heights of up to 4,800 meters above sea level.

The government agency recommended that air traffic “take precautionary measures” at altitudes below 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) within 30 kilometers (19 miles) of Fuego and the nearby Santiaguito volcano.

In addition, tourism agencies have been alerted to the dangers of activities such as climbing near Fuego and other volcanoes.

Insivumeh said some “fine ash” fell in towns east and northeast of the volcano and vibrations were felt in some homes due to the rumbling.

The 3,760-meter-high Fuego erupts on average every four to five years.

During an eruption in 2018, lava flows poured down the slopes and devastated the village of San Miguel Los Lotes. 215 people were killed and just as many are missing.

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