Volcano eruption in Guatemala forces airport closure

Source-INA
One of the most active volcanoes in Central America has erupted again, spewing lava and ash and forcing authorities in Guatemala City to briefly close the country's largest airport and a major highway.

The volcano named Fuego -- Spanish for fire -- rumbled into activity overnight Saturday into Sunday, with molten rock oozing down its slopes and ash belching two kilometres (more than a mile) into the sky. Winds carried the ash toward Guatemala City, 35 kilometres (22 miles) away.

La Aurora international airport, six kilometres south of the capital, was temporarily closed at mid-morning, the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said in a statement, citing the presence of ash near the runway.

At least two incoming flights had to be diverted, aviation sources said before it reopened around midday local time after winds changed direction and sent ash away from the facility.

In addition, a road that connects southern and central Guatemala was closed as a precaution, said Carlos Aquino, a spokesman for the highway police. It reopened Sunday afternoon as the volcano's activity subsided.
Source- trtworld