Guatemala City, Aug. 4 -- Guatemalan authorities have raised the country's emergency warning to its second-highest level on Monday evening following a major eruption of Central America's most active volcano.

The disaster coordination agency Conred announced on X declared a nationwide orange alert as Fuego volcano experienced a surge in activity, generating dangerous pyroclastic density currents that surged toward the Seca and Ceniza ravines on its southwest flank.

Emergency officials immediately initiated evacuations for two villages located near the volcano, which sits approximately 35 kilometres from the capital, Guatemala City.

Conred announced the escalation on social media, stating on X that "An orange (danger) alert has been decl...