Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts

Fuego volcano erupts in Alotenango, some 65 kilometres southwest of Guatemala City, on Tuesday. Guatemalan authorities issued the country's second-highest emergency alert level after a major eruption of Central America's most active volcano, prompting the evacuation of nearby villages. Officials began evacuating on Monday two villages near the volcano, which is located 35 kilometres from the capital Guatemala City.
Footage released by the emergency services showed the powerful eruption turning clouds red and lava flowing down the slopes of the 3,763-metre-high (12,346-foot) volcano. 'If an evacuation is ordered or conditions pose a risk to your life, follow the principle of self-evacuation,' Conred spokesperson Valeria Urizar said in a video posted on social media. The country's Institute of Volcanology warned in a statement that the volcano was 'moving towards a more explosive phase'.
It warned of hot volcanic debris flows down Fuego's slopes, with communities on the western and southern flanks at the greatest risk.
The education ministry ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in communities within two municipalities near the volcano as a precaution. Traffic police also closed a road encircling the mountain range that connects the south coast with the colonial city of Antigua, the country's main tourist destination and a Unesco World Heritage site.
The Institute of Volcanology reported that ash plumes were rising to more than 6,000 metres, with ash falling on nearby communities.
There have been several such mass evacuations in recent years because Fuego erupted.
Guatemala lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. — AFP