Fuego (Guatemala): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Fuego is a stratovolcano located in Guatemala at an elevation of 3,799 meters, operating within a subduction zone and continental crust tectonic setting. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a recorded history comprising 61 confirmed eruptions. These events span a timeline from the earliest recorded occurrence around 1580 BCE to activity documented through the 21st century CE.

Overview of Recorded Eruptions

The official record for Fuego encompasses 61 confirmed eruptions, with evidence gathered through a mix of isotopic dating methods (such as uncalibrated carbon-14) for ancient events and direct historical observations for later periods. Among these events, 55 include ratings on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which measures the relative size and magnitude of explosive volcanic events. The largest recorded eruption in this dataset reached a VEI of 4.0.

Historical documentation of Fuego's activity varies by century, reflecting both shifts in human observation and the natural rhythm of the volcano. The distribution of confirmed eruptions across centuries demonstrates a long-term pattern of activity:

• 16th century BCE: 1 eruption (starting around 1580 BCE with a 75-year uncertainty)
• 6th century CE: 1 eruption
• 9th century CE: 1 eruption
• 10th century CE: 1 eruption
• 16th century CE: 9 eruptions
• 17th century CE: 8 eruptions
• 18th century CE: 9 eruptions
• 19th century CE: 10 eruptions
• 20th century CE: 20 eruptions
• 21st century CE: 1 eruption

Examples of Historical Eruption Records

The compiled record demonstrates how observation methods evolved from geological sampling to direct reporting. Representative records from the official database illustrate this progression:

• 1580 BCE: An early confirmed eruption identified via uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence, carrying a start year uncertainty of 75 years.
• 1620 CE: A reported observational eruption with a recorded VEI of 2.0.
• 1826 CE: An eruption starting on July 2, 1826, documented through reported observations with a VEI of 2.0.
• 1974 CE: A larger explosive event starting on October 10, 1974, and ending on December 4, 1974, reaching a VEI of 4.0.
• 2002 CE: An eruption beginning on January 4, 2002, and concluding on March 18, 2026, with a VEI of 3.0.

The structured database notes that individual eruption entries capture specific start and end dates, observational evidence methods, and explosive magnitudes where data is available.