But unlike ordinary thunderstorms, volcanic lightning can also occur when there ... It can be seen from the capital, Guatemala City, 44km (27 miles) south-west of Fuego’s summit.

gorging the volcano's fissures with spewing fountains of fast-moving lava. This occurred during Nyiragongo's lethal eruptions in 1977 and 2002, wreaking havoc on the city of Goma and its people.