At least 25 people were killed and 300 injured after eruption of Fuego volcano in El Rodeo village near capital Guatemala City.
The National Disaster Management Agency said the volcano has been spewing rocks, black smoke and ash into the sky.
It said a river of lava hit the village destroying houses and burning people inside.
It said the dead were so far all concentrated in three towns- El Rodeo, Alotenango and San Miguel los Lotes.
Government authorities said a total of about 1.7 million people have been affected by the eruption.