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Hundreds of people living on the slopes of Guatemala's Fuego volcano evacuated their homes Tuesday after a massive eruption sent lava flowing and ash billowing into the sky.
Rivers of lava streamed down the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano located less than 100 kilometers (62.14-mile) from Guatemala City, while ash plumes climbed roughly six kilometers into the red sky.
Emergency services issued a red alert, the highest-level warning, after Central America's most active volcano erupted Monday morning, with situations intensifying by nightfall.
Local resident Alejandro Garcia, 68, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that residents left of their own accord out of fear, describing terrifying scenes of lava oozing down the mountainside.
Firefighters said they transported at least 500 residents of the El Porvenir and Las Lajitas villages to the eastern municipality of San Juan Alotenango.
"If there were any chance of moving to a different house, it would be better, because you're always afraid since the volcano doesn't give any warning," Lidia Ortiz, 40, said at the shelter, speaking to AFP.
Those evacuated are sheltering in a community hall fitted with makeshift beds, while the number of people relocated to other nearby towns remains unknown.
By Tuesday morning, Fuego had been erupting nonstop for 23 hours, officials said, though its intensity had begun to ease slightly.
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