Approximately 1,700 people from at least 18 communities were forced to evacuate their homes this week as Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted, once again exposing the systemic vulnerability of the nation's rural poor. These residents, largely from the departments of Escuintla, Chimaltenango, and Sacatepéquez, live on the slopes of one of the country's most active volcanoes, 53 kilometers (33 miles) from the capital.
Communities at Risk
The eruption, which began Monday, saw the volcano spew lava reaching about 300 meters (984 feet) by early Tuesday morning. This activity triggered red alerts, widespread evacuations, a highway closure, and the suspension of classes in three departments. No deaths or damage were reported in this latest event, a stark contrast to past catastrophes.
The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), a state apparatus tasked with managing such crises, reported that activity was decreasing Wednesday. Yet, the agency simultaneously warned of deadly volcanic mudflows, known as lahars, triggered by rainfall from an incoming tropical wave. CONRED advised people to follow authorities’ instructions on preventive evacuation, even as it acknowledged the decreasing activity.
Despite these warnings, some residents who had been evacuated between Monday and Tuesday returned voluntarily to their homes. This desperate act underscores the lack of sustainable alternatives or adequate state support for those displaced, forcing them back into precarious conditions at the volcano's base. The choice between immediate livelihood and long-term safety is often no choice at all for the economically dispossessed.
Recurring Catastrophe
Fuego, a stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,768 meters (12,300 feet), is a constant threat. Live broadcasts showed periods of complete clarity interspersed with ash emissions, a visual reminder of the ongoing danger. The volcano's proximity to densely populated rural areas means its eruptions disproportionately affect working-class and peasant communities.
The current evacuations echo the catastrophe of June 3, 2018, when a previous Fuego eruption killed hundreds of people and wiped out an entire community. Eight years, two months, and three days later, the cycle of displacement and risk persists for those living closest to the volcano. This demonstrates the state's continued failure to implement lasting protections or provide secure alternatives for its most vulnerable citizens, instead offering temporary relief while fundamental structural issues remain unaddressed.