Guatemala's Volcano of Fire has erupted, leading authorities to evacuate nearly 300 families and warn that an additional 30,000 people in surrounding areas may be at risk.

The eruption began overnight, with no immediate reports of casualties. Standing at 12,300 feet (3,763 meters), the volcano is one of the most active in Central America and last erupted in June 2023.

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On Monday, the volcano released gas and ash high into the sky, causing authorities to close nearby schools and a vital road connecting communities.

Claudinne Ugalde, secretary of the disaster agency, stated, “Around 30,000 people are at risk in these three (jurisdictions), and we are working to evacuate them or encourage self-evacuation.”

The greatest threat posed by the volcano is lahars, a dangerous mix of ash, rock, mud, and debris capable of burying entire towns.

A 2018 eruption claimed 194 lives and left 234 people missing.

Isaac García, 43, a resident of El Porvenir, situated on the volcano’s slopes, recalled the devastation of 2018 when he and his family decided to evacuate early on Monday after hearing the warnings.

“We were a bit concerned because the volcano became active a few years ago,” García said, referring to the 2018 eruption, while wearing a mask to protect against the ash. He arrived at a shelter in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife, three children, and other relatives.

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The volcano lies 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital.

Guatemala’s disaster agency reported that while the volcanic flow remains weak to moderate, it is expected to intensify.