Guatemala volcano remains dangerous amid days-long eruption, authorities say | CNN

The days-long eruption of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano, which has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from nearby towns, is reducing in intensity but still remains dangerous, authorities said Wednesday. Even though volcanic activity is showing a “progressive reduction,” accumulated material at the top of the volcano is still collapsing, which could generate more pyroclastic flows, Guatemala’s disaster agency Conred said. Forecasted rain could also cause lahars, the technical term for fast-moving mudflows, the agency added. The Fuego volcano, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the capital Guatemala City, has been spewing lava and plumes of ash since Monday. It has prompted the evacuation of at least 1,699 people, say officials, as pyroclastic flows roll down the volcano’s surrounding ravines. On Monday, Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted, prompting nearby residents to evacuate the area. Ash has spread up to 120 kilometers away, exceeding heights of 5,000 meters (3 miles) above sea level, according to Edwin Rojas, director of the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology. “Activity at the Fuego volcano continues in a critical