GUATEMALA CITY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people have been killed and 296 others injured in Guatemala as a highly active volcano near the country's capital erupted for the second time this year, authorities said Sunday.

Fuego volcano exploded around noon local time and lava began flowing down in the afternoon.

According to a preliminary report from the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala, the eruption is "the strongest one recorded in recent years" and about 1.7 million people have been affected and more than 3,000 evacuated.

Fuego volcano is located about 50 km west of Guatemala City.