Social media videos circulating over the past day show a volcano in Guatemala erupting suddenly and forcefully while a group of hikers was standing very close to the blast site. The footage shows the hikers on a nearby ridge when a loud explosion is heard and a huge column of smoke and ash shoots into the sky.
Within seconds, chunks of lava and hot rocks begin flying in all directions, and some land near the stunned hikers, who rush to take cover. In one of the most striking clips, a hot fragment hits one person’s jacket, melting the fabric and leaving a large hole, but no one was reported hurt.
Another video, filmed by a drone at the same moment above the crater, shows a panoramic view from inside the volcano. The drone operators can be seen reacting in shock as thick smoke and ash burst out with great force and engulf the area.