Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Volcanoes Awaken

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

GUATEMALA CITY, Aug 26 2006 (IPS) - – Hundreds of Guatemalans are in danger on the slopes of the Pacaya and Fuego volcanoes, which have recently seen increased activity. Pacaya, 44 km south of the capital and standing 2,552 meters above sea level, since July 12 has been the more active of the two, when magma began to bubble out of its secondary crater, Eddy Sánchez, director of the government's Institute of Vulcanology, which has restricted public access to the site in order to assess the advance of the three rivers of lava that have formed.

The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction has a shelter set up in the village of San Vicente Pacaya in case residents have to evacuate, says Sánchez.

The Fuego volcano, some 75 km southwest of the capital and standing 3,753 meters above sea level, began to spew huge clouds of steam and ash on Aug. 14.