Fuego Volcano

Fuego Volcano Latest News

Guatemalan authorities recently said they were evacuating more than 500 people after Central America’s most active volcano, Fuego Volcano, spewed gas and ash.

About Fuego Volcano

• Volcan de Fuego, which translates to “Volcano of Fire” in Spanish, is located in Guatemala.
• It is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua.
• Guatemala lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
• Fuego has erupted more than 60 times since 1524, making it Central America’s historically most active volcano.
• A deadly eruption in 2018 claimed 194 lives and left 234 people missing.
• Since then Volcan Fuego has continued to be active, but to a lesser extent, with small eruptions several times a day.
• Activity has consisted of ashfall, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and lahars. 

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What is a Stratovolcano?

• Stratovolcanoes have relatively steep sides and are more cone-shaped than shield volcanoes. 
• Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks.At the peak, stratovolcanoes usually have a small crater.
• They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. The lava therefore builds up around the vent forming a volcano with steep sides. 
• Stratovolcanoes are more likely to produce explosive eruptions due to gas building up in the viscous magma.
• Andesite (named after the Andes Mountains), is perhaps the most common rock type of stratovolcanoes, but stratovolcanoes also erupt a wide range of different rocks in different tectonic settings.
• Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes.

Fuego Volcano FAQs

Q1. Which country is the Fuego volcano in?

Ans. Guatemala

Q2. Is Fuego Volcano still active?

Ans. Yes, Fuego Volcano is still active.

Q3. What type of volcano is Fuego?

Ans. Stratovolcano

Source: PHYS