Every morning, the residents of small communities living in the volcano Pacaya in Guatemala wake up and wonder if the lava will reach their homes.
One slow-moving stream descending the volcano progressed between El Patrocinio and San José el Rodeo. In the case of the latter, the lava advanced to within two and a half blocks of the outer houses.
Emma Quezada, a 38-year-old homemaker in one of the houses, lived there all her life, saying she was used to the volcanic activity. Still, she was scared.
“The last three days the lava has stopped; we hope it stays there, ”said Quezada.
Local authorities have spoken to residents about moving the community to another location about 100km away, but without the space they now have, she said.
“As if you were going from here to a small piece of land!” she said. ‘Maybe we do not have a wonderful thing here, but we live in blessed peace, we do not face any other danger, not even thieves … The options they give can not be compared to what we have here do not have.’
The Pacaya volcano rises 2552 meters between the departments of Guatemala and Escuintla, south of the capital. It is a popular tourist destination and 21 communities surround it.
In early February, a ravine opened in one of the sides of the volcano and lava began to flow, now stretching at least five kilometers. Meanwhile, ash and gases spewed from its crater.
Even though the lava did not reach their homes, the ash damaged their wheat crops and pastures where their cows grazed.
El Rodeo houses 57 families, about 350 people, said Juventino Pineda, president of the Community Council for Urban and Rural Development.
Pineda (67) can remember various eruptions during his lifetime. “One of the worst was 1962. I was a child and lava also came from a crack in the volcano – it was 20 km of lava,” he said.
This time, Pineda said: “We believe that at least 50% of the houses in the community will be destroyed as a result of the lava’s path”. There is an evacuation plan if the situation worsens.
‘At night, when the volcano erupts, everything turns red, everything shines. It looks like day, ”said Pineda.
Closer to the lava you feel the ambient temperature rise. There is a slight smell of sulfur and you can hear a creak.
“It’s important to know that we need help. Maybe someone can help us internationally, ”said Pineda.