Volcán de Fuego

Volcán de Fuego

Volcán de Fuego, 1974 eruption.
Elevation 3,763 m (12,346 ft)
Location
Volcán de Fuego

Guatemala

Range Sierra Madre
Coordinates 14°28′58″N 90°52′58″W / 14.48278°N 90.88278°WCoordinates: 14°28′58″N 90°52′58″W / 14.48278°N 90.88278°W
Geology
Type Stratovolcano (active)
Age of rock 200 Kyr
Volcanic arc/belt Central America Volcanic Arc
Last eruption 2002 to 2015 (ongoing)

Volcán de Fuego ("Volcano of Fire") is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala, on the borders of Chimaltenango, Esquintla and Sacatepéquez departments. It sits about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the west of the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, one of Guatemala’s most famous tourist attractions.[1] It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest. "Fuego" is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Smoke issues from its top daily, but larger eruptions are rare. On 9 August 2007 Fuego erupted spewing lava, rock and ash. Guatemala's volcanology service reported that seven families were evacuated from their homes near the volcano.[2] The volcano is joined with Acatenango and collectively the complex is known as La Horqueta. A new round of activity began on 19 May 2012, with lava flows and ejections of ash.

On 13 September 2012, the volcano once again began spewing lava and ash, prompting officials to begin "a massive evacuation of thousands of people" in five communities.[3] More specifically, the evacuees, roughly 33,000 people, left nearly 17 villages near the volcano.[4] It spewed lava and pyroclastic flows about 600 metres (2,000 ft) down the slope of the volcano.[1]

A further eruption on 8 February 2015 resulted in 100 nearby residents being evacuated, and the closure of La Aurora International Airport due to the amount of falling ash.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Guatemala's Volcano of Fire erupts, 33,000 evacuated". USA Today (Guatemala City). AP. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  2. ↑ INSIVUMEH (retrieved 14 August 2007)
  3. ↑ "Eruption at Guatemala volcano forces evacuations". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Guatemalan emergency official tells AP more than 33,000 fleeing volcano eruption". The Washington Post (Guatemala City). AP. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Guatemala Volcano Eruption Forces Evacuations". The Guardian. Reuters. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.

External links

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