MEXICO CITY, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Guatemala's Fuego volcano has shown a gradual decline in eruptive activity after some 50 hours of continuous eruptions, the country's disaster reduction agency said Wednesday.
Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), said the decrease had allowed authorities to begin the gradual return of some evacuated families.
However, the volcanology agency said moderate explosions, gas and ash emissions, and incandescent rock fragments were still being recorded. It warned that new pyroclastic flows could not be ruled out and monitoring would continue.
Authorities have assisted at least 1,700 evacuees from 440 families since the eruptions began. A total of 616 people remain in shelters, while others have returned to their communities.
CONRED maintained personnel deployed in the departments of Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, which are considered the most affected by the volcano's activity.
The agency also warned that volcanic ash could reduce visibility, cause respiratory problems and create hazardous driving conditions in areas surrounding the volcano. ■
