Volcano erupts near Guatemalan tourist city*

    * Story Highlights
    * Fire Volcano spews lava, rock and ash near colonial city of
Antigua, Guatemala
    * Seven families evacuated from their homes; villagers unharmed,
official says
    * Antigua one of Guatemala's top tourist attractions; area home to
coffee farms

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (Reuters) -- Guatemala's Fire Volcano erupted
Thursday, spewing lava, rock and ash near the colonial city of Antigua
and some of the Central American country's most famous coffee farms.

Guatemala's volcanology service said seven families were evacuated from
their homes near the volcano, about 27 miles (50 kilometers) southwest
of Guatemala City. The villagers were unharmed, an official said.

"Last night, the situation was quite serious, and we declared an orange
alert," said Benedicto Giron, a spokesman for Guatemala's emergency
response service. "We will remain in the area to monitor the situation."

The volcano looms behind Antigua, one of Guatemala's top tourist
attractions and home to some of the country's best coffee farms.

No damage was reported to the plantations, where coffee beans are
beginning to mature.

Fire Volcano is about 12,300 feet (3,760 meters) high and part of a
chain of active volcanoes along the edge of Guatemala's Maya Indian
highlands.