Authorities in Guatemala have called for communities around the southern Volcano of Fire to evacuate, after observing increased activity and intensifying eruptions in the area.

An eruption of the same volcano in June killed 194 people. Official tolls say another 234 are missing, although support groups say they believe there are thousands missing, presumed dead.

The evacuation order was not mandatory, and affects around 2,000 people in eight villages around the volcano.

David de Leon, spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, said the communities should leave and go to safer areas, but it is up to them whether they decide to evacuate or not.

Mr De Leon 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.

Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Show all 16 1 /16 Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemalan police evacuate people in the village of El Porvenir following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Volcano Fuego during an eruptive pulse AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Emergency personnel rescuing a person EPA/Ministry of Defense Guatemala Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents take refuge in a shelter south of Guatemala City following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption The eruption of Volcan de Fuego is captured from Alotenango, southwest of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption TOPSHOT - A police officer carries a baby after the eruption of the Fuego Volcano, in El Rodeo village, Escuintla department, 35 km south of Guatemala City on June 3, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / NOE PEREZNOE PEREZ/AFP/Getty Images NOE PEREZ AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents stand behind a safety cordon following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Relatives react as volunteers carry a coffin with the body of Sergio Vasquez who died following the eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption People flee the ash covered village of El Rodeo, south of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Police officers in protective masks guard the area around the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption An ash covered child is rescued in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Soldiers sweep up ash at La Aurora International Airport Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A young girl is carried by a rescue worker in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUALS COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH ??The ash covered limbs of victims of Fuego volcano's eruption are seen inside the morgue in San Juan Alotenango, Guatemala June 3, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Fuego volcano after it erupted violently Reuters

At least three communities were heeding the order, according to Antigua al Rescate, an organisation that offered assistance in the aftermath of the devastating eruption in June.

That event was the deadliest eruption in Guatemala since 1929. Then, around 3,100 people were ordered to evacuate but, with the eruption resulting in a fast-moving pyroclastic flow of hot gas and rock, communities around the volcano had very little time to flee.

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The Volcano of Fire, or Volcán de Fuego in Spanish, is one of the most active in Central America.