SAN JUAN ALOTENANGO, Guatemala (AFP) — Hundreds of people living on the slopes of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano evacuated their homes Tuesday after a huge eruption spewed lava and plumes of ash.

Emergency services issued a red alert, the most severe warning, after Central America’s most active volcano erupted Monday morning, with conditions intensifying by nightfall.

Rivers of lava streamed down the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano located less than 100 kilometers from Guatemala City, while ash rose some six kilometers into the red sky.