Mexico raises alert for Popocatepetl volcano

Apr 17, 2012 - 05:51

Mexico raises alert for Popocatepetl volcano

The Popocatepetl volcano spews a cloud of ash and steam high into the air as seen from Puebla (reuters_tickers)

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities raised the alert level for the Popocatepetl volcano near to Mexico City on Monday after it started spewing red-hot fragments of rock.

The lava dome of Popocatepetl, some 50 miles (80 km) to the southeast of the capital, started to expand on Friday, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention said.

This change in activity in the 5,450 meter (17,900 foot) volcano could provoke big explosions capable of sending incandescent fragments out over considerable distances, as well as ash showers, the centre said in a statement.

The centre raised the alert level to yellow phase three from yellow phase two, indicating possible magma expulsion and explosions of increasing intensity. It is the third-highest warning on the centre's seven-step scale.

Emergency services should ready evacuation teams and shelters, limit access to the area around the volcano and alert air-traffic control systems, the centre said in its statement.

Experts have noted increased activity in Popocateptl in 2012. It has spewed smoke and ash sporadically over the last few years and a major eruption in 2000 forced the evacuation of nearly 50,000 residents in three states surrounding the peak.

(Reporting by Elinor Comlay and Armando Tovar; Editor by David Brunnstrom)

Reuters

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Comment by Maria De Wind on April 18, 2012 at 11:14am: April 18th, 2012 / 18 Abril, 2012

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 11:54pm: 3 de junio del 2011 / June 3th, 2011

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 11:38pm: ENJOY

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 11:32pm

Comment by Cryptocurrency on April 17, 2012 at 10:24pm: spent three weeks in puebla, about two hours outside of mexico city. there is a volcano there that i saw smoke a couple times. never been near an active volcano before. was a bit nervous haha.

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 9:52pm: South- southwest

South - southeast

West

East

Shit Happens

Southwest

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 9:32pm: Spanish wiki

On a clear day (rare) it looks like this through a telephoto lens, all the hills in front of it are volcanic too and there are thee more large ones surrounding the city

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 17, 2012 at 9:22pm: Depends on which part of Mexico City, some 50 miles (80 km) to the southeast of the capital, but then "the capital" sprawls a lot more than that