Volcán de Fuego in the context of Central American Volcanic Arc

The Central American Volcanic Arc (often abbreviated to CAVA) is a chain of volcanoes which extends parallel to the Pacific coastline of the Central American Isthmus, from Mexico to Panama. This volcanic arc, which has a length of 1,100 kilometers (680 mi) is formed by an active subduction zone, with the Cocos plate subducting underneath the Caribbean plate, the North American plate and the Panama plate. Volcanic activity is recorded in the Central American region since the Permian. Numerous volcanoes are spread throughout various Central American countries; many have been active in the geologic past, varying in intensity of their activity according to different factors.

The 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption was an eruption of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala on Sunday 3 June 2018. The eruption produced a large ash plume fed by continuous explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars. Pyroclastic flows descended the Las Lajas ravine and overspilled its confines, causing the death of officially nearly 200 people. This was the deadliest eruption in Guatemala since the eruption of Volcán Santiaguito in 1902.