The Guatemalan Civil Aeronautics authorities resumed operations at La Aurora International Airport in the country’s capital on Wednesday, after a 24-hour shutdown due to the eruption of the Pacaya volcano that filled the runway with ash.
The head of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), Francis Argueta, explained in a press release that air operations were resumed after an intense cleaning work that began on Tuesday on the runway, platform and taxiways of the air terminal.
Argueta emphasized that “we begin air operations at La Aurora International Airport at 7 in the morning (13:00 GMT)” and positively appreciated the rain that fell in the last hours in Guatemala City.
“It was a light drizzle that helped these tasks to be more effective, since the particles in the environment dispersed more easily,” said the official.
The resumption of operations occurs after evaluating the situation with other authorities such as the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) and the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
The track no longer has a significant presence of volcanic ash, added Argueta.
The official said that despite the resumption of activity in La Aurora, close communication will continue with the Insivumeh to learn about the evolution of the eruption of the Pacaya volcano, located about 60 kilometers from the country’s capital.
According to Argueta, personnel from the capital’s municipality and the Army collaborated in cleaning the facilities.
The DGAC did not specify how many flights were affected by the 24-hour closure of the international airport.
The change in the wind made the ash expelled by the volcano, 2,552 meters above sea level and active since the beginning of February, move from south to north and affect several areas of Guatemala City and other nearby municipalities. to the volcano.
The Insivumeh reported that the Pacaya continues its activity this Wednesday and the ash columns reach up to 4,500 meters in height with dispersion to the southwest.
The scientific entity warned that it is not ruled out that the mountain increases its activity in the next few hours or days.
Guatemala has 32 volcanoes in its territory, three of them with constant activity: the Pacaya, the Fuego volcano and the Santiaguito.