Guatemalan Volcano Spews Ash Cloud

An active volcano in Guatemala shot out a huge cloud of ash and smoke on Thursday, leaving nearby communities blanketed.

Authorities reported that they were considering a plan to evacuate residents from the area near the 12,346-foot-high Volcano del Fuego, Spanish for Volcano of Fire, and issued an "orange" alert.

The volcano is located about 25 miles southwest of the capital, Guatemala City. The Spanish colonial city of Antigua, with a population of 12,000, is situated in its foothills.

Volcano del Fuego's last major eruption was in May 1999.