Tourists hiking on the slopes of Volcán de Fuego in western Guatemala were caught in a terrifying eruption while they were near the crater of one of Central America’s most active volcanoes. A dramatic video circulated on social media shows them scrambling for cover as hot lava rocks flew toward them, one smashing into a ridge and breaking apart into glowing fragments. Thick smoke rises from the crater in the background as the hikers scream and run away. One person is also seen quickly picking up a dog and moving it out of danger.
Among those on the mountain was hiker Hanna Garcia, who recorded part of the event. She said she first tried to keep filming the eruption, but quickly realized she was in real danger. “I filmed a little, but then I looked up and saw rocks starting to fall from the sky,” she told local media. “I was in shock for a few seconds and then I just started running.” Garcia said one lava rock landed about five centimeters from her and “almost hit my head.”
She later posted photos of her jacket, which had a large hole burned into it by the hot rock. Alongside the pictures she wrote, “I wanted this to be the best day of my life, and it almost became the last day of my life.” She later reassured followers that no one was injured, saying, “The only thing that got hurt was my jacket.”
Fuego erupts frequently, usually every 15 to 20 minutes, with small bursts of gas and ash. The climb is a popular but demanding route in the area and is often added to the well-known overnight hike on nearby Acatenango. Garcia said that even though volcanic activity is constant, no one expected an event like this. “Usually the rocks fall on the other side of the mountain. A lot of tourists were there before us, but something like this almost never happens,” she said. After escaping safely, she described the experience as unforgettable, even if everyone was “utterly terrified” at the time.
