The Fire Volcano lived up to its name, spewing ash and incandescent rock n Saturday in southern Guatemala. While the surrounding towns have been placed on alert, the government has not yet evacuated residents.

CNN reports that the volcano spewed ashes reaching up to 5,500 meters above sea level. The eruption caused the closure of the county's La Aurora Airport. Authorities raised alert level to "orange."

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However, Guardian reports that the airport is expected to resume operations by early Sunday morning.

But the country's National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction agency ordered Guatemalans to take shelter, don masks, cover their water tanks and learn about evacuation routes in case they need to leave their homes or towns, reports Miami Herald.

The 3,763-meter high volcano straddles on the boundaries of three Guatemalan states - Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango. It is near the Pacific Ocean coast and 60 miles away from the capital, Guatemala City.

It is a popular tourist attraction, with some firms offering "long technical trail tours," although the trek is not recommended for faint-hearted visitors.

Residents of Antigua town said a mixture of ash and drizzle has reduced visibility, amid continuing rumbles of the active volcano.

Tagsfire volcano, volcanic eruptions, Guatemala