Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano kicks off new year with quite a show

GUATEMALA CITY – Guatemalan authorities Monday warily monitored the eruption of a volcano near its capital that spewed columns of ash up to seven kilometers (four miles) high.

Fuego Volcano, located just 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Guatemala City, rumbled back into higher intensity explosive activity on Sunday after months of fitfulness.

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Guatemala’s Volcanological Institute has advised aviation authorities to ensure flights do not come into contact with the ash cloud.

A spokesman for the country’s disaster response agency, David de León, said the ash billowing from the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) high volcano was fanning dozens of kilometers to the south and west. Light temblors also were being felt in nearby villages.

He said no evacuation order had yet been given, but that civil protection officials were closely watching the eruption.

In February 2015, Fuego Volcano had a powerful eruption that prompted an alert and the closure of the capital’s airport.