Guatemala’s Santiaguito and Fuego volcanoes rain down ash on nearby villages

June 2, 2012 – GUATEMALA – Santiaguito volcano, (also known as Santa Maria) which has been in constant activity in recent days, erupted on Friday, ejecting columns of ash that reached 200 thousand meters high and covering much of the city of Quetzaltenango, the country’s east. This was reported by the local media on Friday, which quoted the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology, stated that “Santiaguito volcano activity remains weak though with moderate explosions.” The institute’s report also said that in view of the wind shifts from south to north, favored the “fall of ash particles on the city of Quetzaltenango and its surroundings, causing some alarm. The ash fell on cars and roofs of houses and streets were light gray,” it said. Given the activity of the crater, the state National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conrad) recommended that people “take necessary precautions to consider” whether to continue the activity of Santiaguito. This crater is located 206 km west of the capital and two thousand 500 meters high. Another active volcano in Guatemala is Fuego, the Fire, three thousand 763 meters high, which last week released ash on several nearby villages. Last week, the Conrad issued a warning orange-red pre-and recommended to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to take precautions to air traffic. In turn, also asked to avoid flying near the fire, between the departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango. –Telsurtv  (translated)

both volcanoes erupted in February of 2012