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Guatemala volcano eruption sparks calls to evacuate surrounding area

Click to play video: 'Thousands evacuated after Guatemala’s ‘Volcano of Fire’ erupts'
Thousands evacuated after Guatemala’s ‘Volcano of Fire’ erupts
WATCH: More than two-thousand people living near Guatemala's "Volcano of Fire" were ordered to evacuate after it erupted on Sunday – Nov 19, 2018

Disaster coordination authorities have asked 10 communities in Guatemala to evacuate and go to safe areas after an increased eruption of the Volcano of Fire.

The 10 communities have at least 2,000 residents, but each community will decide if they evacuate or not. Antigua al Rescate, an organization that helped communities after a devastating eruption in June, and a newspaper in the capital reported at least three communities were doing so.

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Images of the volcano after midnight showed glowing lava at the summit. The volcano is located among the departments of Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez in the south-central part of the country.

David de León, spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, told The Associated Press that at least eight communities should leave.De León said monitoring of the volcano’s activity during the day Sunday showed the intensity of the eruption was being maintained, so the evacuation was called for to protect people.The 3,763-metre (12,300-foot) Volcano of Fire is one of the most active in Central America.WATCH BELOW: NOAA satellites capture Fuego Volcano eruption
Click to play video: 'NOAA satellites capture Fuego Volcano eruption'
NOAA satellites capture Fuego Volcano eruption
An eruption in June killed 194 people and left at least 234 missing, although organizations supporting the communities have insisted there are thousands of missing persons. It spewed more ash and lava in October, prompting warnings for the nearby communities.

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