Fuego Volcano in Guatemata in eruption in April, 2003. One of Central America's most active volcanoes, Fuego is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. Collapse of an ancestral volcano about 8,500 years ago produced a massive debris avalanche that traveled about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango, the northern twin volcano of Fuego. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded since 1524 and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows. The last major explosive eruption from Fuego took place in 1974.

CONRED is the Guatemalan National Center for Reducing Disasters, and the information above is from GVP/USGS.        Return to Archive or go to Next Photo.