Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted Thursday, spewing ash three kilometres into the sky and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people, but it was expected to stabilize by today, allowing evacuees to return home, emergency services said.
The volcano, 40 kilometres southwest of the capital Guatemala City, erupted in the early afternoon, belching a cloud of ash above the crater, Guatemala's emergency agency said in a statement.
But by Thursday evening, the eruptions had died down considerably and were soon expected to return to normal levels, said Sergio Cabanas, the agency's director of emergency response.
About 11,000 people had been evacuated, but no more evacuations would be necessary, Cabanas added.
"It is hoped that by tomorrow the volcano will return to normal activity and that families will be able to return home," he said.
Two lava flows, about 600 metres long, had headed down the sides of the volcano, accompanied by pyroclastic flows of hot rock and ash, the emergency agency said.
Speaking at a news conference during a state visit to Costa Rica, Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said the eruption could affect people as far away as Guatemala City.
"It is a shame, but this is a fact of life in our country, so we will do the best we can to avoid people being harmed," he said.
Witnesses said the explosion darkened skies and prompted the closure of schools and universities.
