The Washington VAAC reported that on 28 April 2003 Fuego generated intermittent ash eruptions. Recent publications. On 12 December there was an average of 10 explosions per hour, generating avalanches in the Ceniza and Taniluyá drainages and ashfall in nearby areas. On 22 December a narrow lava flow on Fuego's S flank reached a distance of ~200 m from the central crater. Ash clouds rose more than 2 km by the evening of the 21st, accompanied by moderate ash emission from the base of the summit mound, at an angle of 40° from the vertical. Ashfall was reported in Chimaltenango, Zaragoza, Ciudad Vieja, San Pedro las Huertas, San Miguel Las Dueñas, San Juan Alotenango, Antigua Guatemala and the Capital City as far as 35 km N and NE. Incandescence was also reported during the night of 9 October. Episode 14 began the next day with a strong explosion that generated an ash plume to 7 km altitude that drifted 110 km W and NW. | March Ashfall was reported in areas downwind in the communities 8-12 km SW including Morelia, Santa Sofia, Palo Verde Farm, and Panimaché I and II throughout the month. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and a pilot observation, the Washington VAAC reported that on 20 October an apparent ash plume from Fuego drifted SSW. During 9-10 January Vulcanian explosions generated shock waves detected within 10 km, ejected pulses of incandescent material 100 m high, and produced ash plumes that rose 300 m and drifted 10 km NE. Ash fell in Sangre de Cristo, San Pedro Yepocapa, Santiago Atitlán, Chicacao, Mazatenango, and Retalhuleu. During an aerial survey on 10 February, no changes in crater morphology were evident since the previous overflight a year earlier (15:03). These eruptions have resulted in major ashfalls, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and damaging lahars. That same day, information from INSIVUMEH and satellite imagery indicated small emissions that rose to an altitude of 4.9 km (16,000 ft) a.s.l and drifted SE. Explosions generated ash plumes that rose 450 m and drifted W and SW. On 21 November INSIVUMEH reported that a recent Strombolian phase at Fuego decreased in intensity. SO2 emissions remained low throughout April-September with only minor emissions recorded in satellite data on 1 April and 9 May 2019 (figure 122). COSPEC measurements on the same day revealed that SO2 was at moderate levels (394 metric tons), and had increased since measurements taken on 18 June (319 metric tons) (table 1). The lahars again overtook the road between communities on the SW flank, isolating the village of Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW) and the Palo Verde estate. An ash plume drifted S and SW. On 16 March, Strombolian activity propelled material 300 m above the summit and shockwaves were felt as far as 15 km away. Incandescent blocks rose 75-100 m above the crater and weak avalanches were channeled into the Ceniza, Trinidad, Taniluyá, Santa Teresa, Las Lajas, and Honda drainages. Steam clouds containing a little ash rose about 1,000 m above the summit, beginning before dawn on 11 September. and drifted 5-7 km W and SW. On 21 August rumbling sounds were accompanied by incandescent tephra ejected 75 m high. INSIVUMEH reported that during 14-15 October explosions from Fuego produced shock waves that were detected nearby, rumbling sounds, and ash plumes that rose 700 m above the crater and drifted S. A small avalanche traveled S in the Santa Teresa drainage. The Las Lajas, Honda, and El Jute ravines were the sites of lahars carrying blocks up to 1.5 m in diameter on 8 and 18 September. A lava flow traveled 1.3 km down the Seca drainage. Rumbling noises and shockwaves occasionally accompanied explosions. Incandescence was isolated at the summit in early March, but on 20 March incandescence re-appeared within the Ceniza drainage and extended ~2,000 m SW of the summit (figure 19D). Ashfall was reported in La Rochela, Ceylon, Morelia, Hagia Sophia, Sangre de Cristo, Panimaché I and II. | April The Washington VAAC issued multiple daily ash advisories on 19 days during May. | February and drifted SE. The summit crater was erupting a continuous stream of gas and fine ash, while the two lava vents exhibited lava fountaining interspersed with dark ash explosions. Ashfall was reported in the villages of El Rodeo, La Rochela, Osuna, Panimaché, Morelia, Sangre de Cristo and Yepocapa. Very weak black ash emission during the morning of 1 August was succeeded by steaming that continued intermittently through the next day. Intermittent dark gray to black ash columns rose more than 1,100 m on 19 January. Five took place in Seca barranca (13, 14, 19, 23, and 27 May), one in the Ceniza ravine (14 May), and two in Las Lajas canyon (both on 29 May). The weak activity of 22-23 August continued on the 24th. INSIVUMEH reported variable activity beginning on 11 April with high levels of explosive activity on 12 April marking the beginning of the sixth eruptive episode of the year, which lasted for three days. The lahar in the Las Lajas ravine overflowed and forced the closure of route RN-14 road affecting the community of San Miguel on the SE flank (figure 140). At 0530 the seismic station "FG" located in the FICA La Reunion, 3.5 km E of the crater, registered movement beneath the volcano. Explosive activity increased on 7 August. Incandescent ejecta was visible above the summit on 30 December, and l, 5, 7, 9, and 15 January. The majority of material deposited by pyroclastic flows was located in the Las Lajas drainage where the flow reached 4-5 km in length. On 26 October, ash plumes drifted N and NW, and incandescent material was ejected 75 m above the crater. Lyons, J. J., Waite, G.P., Rose, W., and Chigna, G., 2010. A new 200-m-long lava flow descended the SW flank into the Taniluya drainage and block avalanches reached vegetation during 2-3 February. The MODVOLC thermal alert system recorded ~90 significant anomalies between 1 January 2011 and 1 January 2012, ~375 between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2013 when explosive activity escalated, and ~255 between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2013 when lava flows were active near the summit region (figure 18). Explosions on 28 August produced ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 4.1 km (13,500 ft) a.s.l. During 21-22 October, several weak explosions at Fuego sent plumes to a maximum height of ~300 m above the volcano. Ashfall as reported in areas downwind including Panimache I, Morelia, Palo Verde Estate, Santa Sofia, La Rochela, and San Andrés Osuna. The highest rising ash plume produced from the explosions reached ~1.2 km above the volcano on 5 April and drifted SSE. Ashfall was reported at the observatory, and in Morelia (8 km SW) and Santa Sofia (12 km SE). Most also included pyroclastic flows down the larger drainages. Ash plumes rose as high as 3.2 km and drifted 20-60 km W, SW, and NE. INSIVUMEH reported that on 10 July lahars traveled SE down Fuego's Las Lajas and El Jute drainages carrying blocks 1-1.5 m in diameter. Lava fountains rose 100-200 m high. He estimated that the lava flow advanced 30 m or more. Seismic activity increased on 5 May in the form of internal vibrations caused by lava which flowed more than 1.2 km down the Las Lajas ravine, and moderate to strong explosions that produced ash plumes which rose to 4.8 km altitude and drifted S for 12 km. Explosions produced shock waves and ash plumes that rose just over 1 km above the summit. During 6-8 and 13 October, active lava flows traveled up to 200 m down the Seca drainage. On 3 November heavy rain caused lahars that traveled down the Ceniza drainage, carrying tree branches and 2-m-wide blocks. Explosions during 26-28 April produced ash plumes that rose 350-800 m and drifted 10 km W. Villagers in Panimaché, Morelia, and Santa Sofía again reported vibrating houses and ashfall. Ash plumes from the explosions rose as high as 1.1 km above the crater rim and drifted E and NE. The plumes drifted 5 km SW. During 2011, hotspots were mainly located at Fuego's summit; however, during March and December, distinctively elongate, incandescent lava flows extended from the summit to the SW (figure 19A and 19B). During 1-2 December explosions generated ash plumes that rose 850 m and drifted 15 km S and SW. INSIVUMEH reported that during 13-18 November explosions at Fuego produced ash plumes that rose 550-750 m above the crater and drifted 10-12 km S and W. Shock waves from some of the explosions rattled structures near the volcano. and drifted E and NE. Ash plumes drifted more than 20 km S, SW, and W; ashfall was reported in areas downwind including Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), and El Porvenir. "22 February Fuego started throwing fine ash to a height of about 12,000 m. This was accompanied by ash flows down the Barranca Honda. | February On 15 December, Fuego generated a significant ash-and-steam plume that was observed from Antigua and Guatemala. INSIVUMEH reported that on 3 October a hot lahar descended Fuego's Ceniza drainage (SSW), carrying logs, branches, and blocks. On 13 December, two lava flows from Fuego reached 200-300 m W and SW of the central crater. There is data available for 79 Holocene eruptive periods. Ash fell in the communities of La Rochela, Ceilán, El Zapote, and Guadalupe. Active lava flows were 300 and 500 m long in the Taniluyá (SW) and Ceniza (SSW) drainages, respectively. Ash clouds as high as 1,600 m were emitted on 24 December, but activity declined to minor steaming between the 25th and 31st. During 20, 22, and 24 June, incandescence from the summit reached 100-150 m above the crater rim and formed weak avalanches in the immediate summit area. The lava flows were inactive and only incandescence from block avalanches was observed. Explosions continued the next day. Explosions averaged 4-8 per hour during most of December sending incandescent material 200-250 m above the crater. On 11 May steaming lahars descended the Las Lajas, Seca, Ceniza, and Mineral drainages, carrying variously-sized blocks and tree parts. During 12-14 October explosions produced ash plumes that rose 500-800 m above the crater and drifted 7-12 km S and SW. Incandescent pulses rose 100-150 m above the crater. | May Some strong explosions were accompanied by rumbling noises, shock waves detected 8 km away, avalanches of blocks down all flanks, and ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. Card 1296 (27 September 1971) Samuel Bonis, Instituto Geografico Nacional, Guatemala; Richard Stoiber, Dartmouth College, USA. (excerpt from note submitted to Science by A.B. INSIVUMEH reported that on 23 May a hot lahar descended Fuego’s Santa Teresa (W) drainage, carrying blocks 2 m in diameter, branches, and tree trunks. Incandescent material was ejected 100-300 m above the summit almost daily. Again on 24 and 25 January, small (~ 600 m high) ash clouds rose from the summit crater at a similar rate. Fuego erupted on 21 May 1999 sending ash to the S, SE, and SW and ultimately dropping up to 40 cm of ash on local settlements (BGVN 24:04). On 20 June, a lahar that was hot in areas, descended the Ceniza drainage to the SW, dragging tree branches and blocks 0.5-1 m in diameter. The following is from their report. Dense gray ash plumes rose almost 1.3 km and drifted 20 km W and SW. Ash fell in Morelia, Santa Sofía, Panimaché, and Yepocapa. One large and several small earthquakes were felt in Antigua during the observation period. Weather clouds prevented observations from satellite images on 7 and 8 August, but the VAAC reported a "" strong hotspot in infrared imagery on 8 August. CONRED stated that the Alert Level was raised to Orange and several people were evacuated from the town of Sangre de Cristo. The latter half of September 2006 continued the characteristic previous activity with explosions that sent incandescent lava 75-100 m above the crater rim and that generated hot avalanches SW towards the Taniluyá River. Explosions produced shock waves detected within 8 km of the volcano. Occasionally incandescent material was ejected as high as 75 m above the crater and avalanches descended the flanks. Weak explosions produced steam clouds above the volcano. Fumarolic plumes rose 150 m and drifted S and SW. INSIVUMEH reported that on 21 May lahars descended the Santa Teresa and Ceniza ravines to the W and SW of Fuego, respectively, and carried fine material as well as blocks up to 2 m in diameter. | November Bonis, S. and Salazar, O. INSIVUMEH reported that during 2-3 February Fuego produced 27 explosions with ash plumes that rose 300-500 m above the crater and drifted 7 km W and SW. Thus, their ability to issue useful information in cloudy conditions depends on the quality of communications with local observers, the Meteorological Watch Office, volcanologists, geophysical observatories, and the aviation community. Two small incandescent ejections were seen after nightfall. Volcán de Fuego has been erupting continuously since 2002. Fine ash fell in Antigua on 7 May, then after 2 days of weak steam emission (8-9 May) and a cloudy day (10 May), ashfall in Yepocapa, 8.5 km NW of the summit, was reported on the 11th and 12th. Remnants over 450 km W were seen in multispectral imagery by early on 9 December. During 8-11 May a new 400 m long lava flow was detected in the Ceniza drainage, accompanied by constant crater incandescence and block avalanches traveling up to 1 km, according to INSIVUMEH. On 16 March INSIVUMEH reported an increased number of avalanches at Fuego, traveling down the Ceniza (SSW), Trinidad (S), and Las Lajas (SE) ravines. Incandescent material landed on many of the upper slopes. Information Contacts: S. Bonis, IGN; R. Stoiber, Dartmouth College; D. Harlow, USGS, Menlo Park, CA; P. Newton, Antigua; D. Shackelford, CA. Explosions during 30 September-1 October and 3-4 October generated ash plumes that rose as high as 1.1 km and drifted 7-13 km W, SW, and S. During 3-4 October explosions produced shock waves and ashfall in Morelia (10 km SW). and drifted SSW. Unusually heavy rains have caused landslides and widespread flooding throughout Guatemala, resulting in many deaths, major crop losses, and closures of main road and rail transportation routes. Detached blocks from the lava-flow front traveled down the flanks to the vegetated area. Small ash explosions at Fuego on 11 and 12 May rose to 5 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l., or approximately 1 km (3,280 ft) above the summit. Around 20 December a narrow lava flow began to be emitted from the S edge of the volcano's central crater. During July 2019, white steam plumes rose daily from the summit of Fuego to an altitude of 4.1-4.3 km and drifted W and SW; higher plumes on 30 and 31 July rose to 4.5 km altitude. Explosions and tremor were recorded by a seismic station. The following report from Samuel Bonis was telephoned to the Center today by R. Stoiber. Incandescent material rose 150-200 m above the summit crater on 28 October, and lava traveled 500 m down the Las Lajas ravine. Also in Alotenango, La Reunion, and El Porvenir, Alotenango. During 28-29 April explosions were detected at a rate of 6-8 per hour. Intermittent white gas-and-steam emissions reached 4.1-4.5 km altitude drifting in multiple directions.