In the heart of northern Chiapas, where the land seemed to sleep in silence, the early morning of March 28th changed history forever. The Chichonal Volcano awoke, and with it, one of the most devastating tragedies ever experienced by Chiapas and Mexico.
The Zoque people had been warning of it: the earth had been rumbling for months. But that night, the silence was shattered. An explosion hurled ash, rocks, and gases more than 17 kilometers into the air.
Entire communities vanished. Towns like Francisco León and Chapultenango were buried under ash. The air became unbreathable, roads disappeared, and thousands of families had to flee, not knowing if they would ever return.
The ash not only covered Chiapas, it reached Tabasco, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Campeche… and even circled the globe. For the Zoque people, it was not just a natural disaster; it was the loss of their history, their homes, and their identity. Beneath the ash lay memories, traditions, and lives.
The eruption of El Chichonal left an indelible mark. According to official figures, more than 1,900 people died or disappeared, and around 20,000 more were displaced.
Nine entire communities vanished, and nearly 50,000 were affected throughout the region. Ash traveled hundreds of kilometers and even reached other continents. It was considered the worst volcanic disaster in Mexico’s history.
Today, El Chichonal appears calm, but beneath its crater, the earth remains alive. And in the memory of Chiapas, that day when the sky turned to ash continues to fall slowly, engulfing history.
Source: alaertachiapas
