The Pacaya volcano in Guatemala is still in a strong eruptive phase causing explosions and lava flows, the civil protection agency said Thursday (March 18th).
The 2,552-meter-high volcano, located about 25 km south of Guatemala City, entered an eruptive phase more than a month ago.
"
On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, moderate and loud explosions were heard, accompanied by rumblings and sounds similar to those of a train locomotive
," said the spokesperson for the Coordination for Disaster Prevention ( Conred), David De Leon.
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He projected blocks of incandescent volcanic material that reached a height of between 50 and 150 meters above the crater.
Two new lava flows also appeared on Thursday, the official said.
“
The volcano had two episodes during which the activity reached a level which was classified as an eruption and is maintained at this level.
The explosions can be seen, with columns of dense ash and gas,
”explained David De Leon.
About twenty villages located near the volcano have been placed on alert for a possible evacuation.
The Pacaya volcano experienced a major eruption on May 27, 2010 which caused the death of a journalist who came to cover the event.
Not far from the Pacaya are the active volcanoes of Fuego (southwest) and Santiaguito (west).
Guatemala has about thirty volcanoes.
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