Alert – U. S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala
Location: Guatemala, country wide.
Event: FUEGO VOLCANO THREATENS DOWNSTREAM POPULATIONS: Heavy rains from Hurricane Iota have significantly increased the potential for destructive lahars to form on the flanks of Fuego Volcano, threatening populations and infrastructure downstream.
Heavy rainfall has the potential to mobilize a large volume of loose volcanic deposits from the 2018 eruption of Fuego. Destructive lahars are likely to form in drainage channels surrounding the volcano, and are capable of traveling far distances downstream from the volcano and inundating populated areas along these channels within minutes. The Rio Cenizas and Rio Guacalate are of most concern. Populations in downstream areas, specifically in the towns of Escuintla and Siquinalá, should heed warnings from officials and evacuate if necessary.
Visit CONRED (Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres) and INSIVUMEH (Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología) websites for updated weather and hazard information.
Actions to Take:
CONRED (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction) advises citizens to;
- Follow instructions issued by local authorities
- Review household evacuation plans
- Ensure that a 72-hour emergency bag is ready for each household member.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Guatemala City
https://gt.usembassy.gov
Tel. (502) 2326-4000
Amcitsguatemala@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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