Guatemala’s La Aurora International Airport was closed on Tuesday due to ash fall from the Pacaya volcano, which has been in constant activity for almost two months, and will remain closed until this Wednesday, airport authorities reported.
The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology asked the Civil Aeronautics Directorate (DAC) to close it due to the danger of keeping it operating. Photographs showed ash on the planes and on the runway, putting aerial maneuvers at risk.
Francis Argueta, director of Aeronautics, published on his Twitter account that the closure of operations was due to the change of wind from south to north and the increase in activity of the Pacaya, located between the departments of Guatemala and Escuintla, which released volcanic sand that reached the capital.
Argueta said that the airport will remain closed until 7 in the morning of this Wednesday, when an evaluation of the conditions of the runway will be made. “Prudence is the most important thing,” he told The Associated Press.
According to the DAC, a total of nine commercial aircraft were grounded, while two flights that were supposed to arrive in Guatemala were diverted to El Salvador and between 30 and 35 private flights were suspended.
The Pacaya, 2,552 meters high, is one of the three active volcanoes in the country. Although its activity is constant, since the beginning of February there have been eruptions that released large columns of ash and smoke. Several communities that live on the slopes of the colossus have been affected but have refused to leave their homes.