Guatemala Volcano Eruption Nearly Hits Tourists Filmed Too Close to Crater

A disturbing video from Guatemala shows hikers standing dangerously close to the active Fuego volcano when it suddenly erupted beside them. The group had ignored safety warnings and was inside an area that authorities have marked closed and off-limits. During the blast, glowing rock fragments, described as volcanic “bombs,” shot into the air and fell within inches of the terrified tourists, nearly wiping out the group.

The footage shows the hikers at the crater rim, apparently beyond what local guides call the “point of no return.” One detail that drew particular anger online was a dog seen in the clip, which appeared to be running near the hot lava beads. Commenters first assumed a tourist had brought the animal into the danger zone, but people familiar with the area said these are wild street dogs that live on the mountain, run up the slope every day, and sometimes accompany climbers to the summit.

The video triggered a wave of backlash on social media, where many users called the hikers “fools” with poor survival instincts. Some also claimed the clip had been reversed in editing to make it look as if the group was running toward the eruption rather than away from it, allegedly to gain more TikTok views.

Despite the severity of the eruption, the incident ended without serious injuries. Experts warned that even a helmet would not protect someone if a lava bomb struck directly.