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. The explosions generated shock waves detected as far away as 5 km W and SW, in Sangre de Cristo, Panimache I and II, and Morelia. Block avalanches descended the Santa Teresa, Taniluyá, Cenizas, and Trinidad drainages to the SW. During 6-8 February explosions produced ash plumes that rose 500 m above the crater and drifted W and SW. At night incandescence was observed emanating from the crater and explosions sometimes ejected incandescent material 100 m above the crater rim.

Geological Summary. Volcán Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is also one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, lies between Fuego and Acatenango to the north. Construction of Meseta dates back to about 230,000 years and continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta may have produced the massive Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at the mostly andesitic Acatenango. Eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)