Overall Green alert Volcanic eruption for Pacaya
in Guatemala

Event summary

GREEN alert: The Pacaya Volcanic eruption is unlikely to require external humanitarian assistance based on the exposed population and coping capacity.

GDACS ID VO 1000014
Name: Pacaya
Lat/Lon: 14.382 , -90.601
Event Date: 23 Apr 2021 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 2760000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 7860000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 3
Population Exposure Index PEI: 6
Inserted at: 25 Mar 2021 07:16 UTC

GDACS Score

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Guatemala - Volcanic eruption (ECHO 04 Mar 2021)Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:13

  • The volcanic activity of Pacaya volcano, located 30 km south-west of Guatemala City, is increasing.
  • The ash column, generated by strong explosions, reached up to 5.5 km above the sea level. The dispersion of the ash moved mainly in the east direction, affecting the communities of San Francisco de Sales, El Cedro, Calderas, El Patrocinio, El Rodeo and Las Jazmines.
  • The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) recommends people living close to the volcano to follow the recommendations made by the authorities.
Guatemala - Volcanic eruption (ECHO 17 Mar 2021)Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:38

  • Pacaya volcano, located 30 km south-west of Guatemala City, continues with its Strombolian activity. On 16 March, the ash column raised 500 metres above the crater and a pyroclastic flow descended through the southern flank up to 1,300 metres.
  • The dispersion of the ash up to 2 cm high has been reported in the villages El Patrocinio, San José El Rodeo, and Concepción El Cedro, in San Vicente Pacaya Municipality.
  • The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) recommends people living close to the volcano to follow the recommendations of the authorities.
 
Guatemala - Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 29 Mar 2021)Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:48

  • The Pacaya volcano located near Guatemala City, continues to experience eruptive activity. Moderate explosions followed by 3,500 metre ash columns have been reported by the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala (CONRED).
  • Ashfall was recorded in the villages of El Pepinal, San Francisco de Sales, El Cedro, Calderas, Mesías Altas, and Low Messiah. La Aurora International Airport was closed for 24 hours on 26 March.
  • Stronger explosions could produce ash emissions that may affect several parts of Guatemala City. The lava flow on the south west flank continues to be monitored.
Guatemala - Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 01 Apr 2021)Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:39

  • Explosive activity continues on the Mackenney crater of Pacaya volcano, located 30 km south-west of Guatemala City. The ash column has raised 3,000-4,300 m above the sea level moving south, southwest, west and northwest at distances of up to 50 km.
  • Lava flows with a maximum length of 3,000 metres have been reported across the west flank and reached the localities of La Breña and Campo Alegre, affecting a house that functioned as a monitoring area and sanitary services for people who visited the area.
  • According to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH), the communities living in the west and south flanks of the volcano have been advised to be aware of the activity of the volcano and to follow the recommendations of the authorities. 

 

Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report provides information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Latest Pacaya report has been published on 24 Mar 2021 08:01.
INSIVUMEH reported periods of intense activity at Pacaya?s Mackenney Crater during 17-18 March. Explosions produced dense ash plumes that rose 500-1,000 m above the crater rim and drifted 25-30 km S, SW, W, NW, and N. Incandescent material was ejected 300-500 m above the crater and fell within a 600 m radius of the crater. Lava flows on the S flank were 1.5 km long and set fire to vegetation at the advancing edge. Two new lava flows were visible; one traveled 400 m E and the other traveled 500 m S. Ashfall was reported in El Rodeo (4 km WSW), Patrocinio (about 5 km W), El Cedro (9 km NNW), San Francisco de Sales (5 km N), Amatitl?n (12 km N), and Villa Nueva (16 km N). Strong explosions during 21-23 March generated dense ash plumes that rose as high as 1.5 km above the summit. The plumes drifted 25-30 km NE, E, SE, and S, causing ashfall in Los Llanos, Los Pocitos (5 km S), Los Dolores (6 km SE), El Rodeo, Patrocinio, Mes?as Alta and Mes?as Baja, and Santa Elena Barillas (6 km ENE). Incandescent material was ejected 500 m above the crater and fell within 300-600 m of the crater. A lava flow on the SW flank was 1.5 km long, a flow on the S flank was 300 m long, and the E-flank lava flow had lengthened to 500 m. On 23 March ash plumes drifted 50 km NW, N, and NE, causing ashfall in Pepinal San Francisco de Sales, Los Pocitos, Los Dolores, Mes?as Altas and Mes?as Bajas, Santa Elena Barillas, Villa Nueva, and in the capital of Guatemala City (25-30 km NNE). Ash fell at Guatemala's international airport, Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora, 50 km N of Pacaya, causing the airport to close. Soldiers swept ash off of the runway and incoming flights were diverted to El Salvador. Sources: CNN ,Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
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Latest media headlines

Articles: 65 | About casualties: 0 | Last hour: 0

Reabren Parque Nacional Pacaya tras fin de erupción volcánicaMon, 26 Apr 2021 02:22:00 +0200.

Según el más reciente boletín del Instituto de Sismología,Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología de Guatemala, el Pacaya regresó la víspera a sus parámetros normales tras una erupción de 78 días. La actividad volcánica se concentra de nuev
...(more)
2:26 Reabren Parque Nacional Pacaya tras fin de erupción volcánicaSun, 25 Apr 2021 20:39:00 +0200.

Según el más reciente boletín del Instituto de Sismología,Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología de Guatemala, el Pacaya regresó la víspera a sus parámetros normales tras una erupción de 78 días. La actividad volcánica se concentra de nuev
...(more)
Guatemala: lava de volcán a punto de tragarse una comunidadSat, 24 Apr 2021 23:58:00 +0200.

EL PATROCINIO, Guatemala. Los habitantes de El Patrocinio y del caserío San José el Rodeo, unas pequeñas localidades de Guatemala, despiertan cada día pensando si la lava del volcán Pacaya llegará a sus casas mientras el magma avanza y amen
...(more)
Vulcano Pacaya, terminata l’attività eruttiva dopo quasi 3 mesi in Gua ... Sat, 24 Apr 2021 22:12:00 +0200.

Il vulcano Pacaya , entrato in eruzione lo scorso 5 febbraio in Guatemala , ha terminato la sua attività eruttiva , dopo quasi 3 mesi in cui ha minacciato alcune località vicine, con la lava giunta a pochi metri dalle abitazioni. Attualment
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (32), (2), INGV (2), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), INFORM (2),