A video making rounds on social media captures the harrowing moment when hikers flee for safety as a volcano erupts beneath them.

The footage depicts a group of hikers standing just a few meters away from the crater of a volcano in Santiaguito, Guatemala, as it erupted this week. An enormous cloud of ash can be seen shooting up from the ground, accompanied by rocks and debris being hurled around.

In a separate video taken from a distance, some hikers are seen sprinting down the hillside as rocks shower down upon them. One individual can be seen stumbling to the ground as the group hurriedly moves away.

According to reports from the Sun, the hikers were scaling a path known as “the death trail.” This climb is notoriously perilous, as the volcano is among the most active in Central America.

Authorities have forbidden the ascent of the Santiaguito volcano, although it is reported that hikers frequently disregard these restrictions, as highlighted by ABC7 Eyewitness News.

On social media platform X, users shared their thoughts on the incident. One user remarked, “This is why you stay away from active craters. Imagine being in their shoes right now… what’s your first move?” Another user commented, “Volcanoes don’t send warning texts. One minute you’re posing, next you’re running from hot rocks.”

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