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 May 7, 2012 at 11:39pm

Comment by Maria De Wind on May 6, 2012 at 10:13am: Imagen del Volcán Popocatépetl - Altzomoni Tlamacas

Imagen del Volcán Popocatépetl - Tlamacas

Imagen del Volcán Popocatépetl - Tianguismanalco

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Comment by DTOM on May 5, 2012 at 6:58pm: Wow!

Comment by Maria De Wind on May 5, 2012 at 6:49pm

Comment by Maria De Wind on May 5, 2012 at 6:43pm: May 5th News

Celebrating 5 de Mayo Mexican Style

a boring May 3th below

today

Comment by Nikki on May 5, 2012 at 6:30pm: Amazing photos!

Comment by Maria De Wind on May 5, 2012 at 6:20pm: There we go again, the party never ends

May 5th from Puebla early in the morning the ash column reached one kilometer high

May 5th afternoon hidden by a thunderstorm

May 2th

Comment by Maria De Wind on April 26, 2012 at 3:21am: Six Mexican Volcanoes: LR Ixtaccíhuatl, Popocatépetl, Matlalcueitl (Malinche), Cofre de Perote (most distant), Pico de Orizaba, Sierra Negra.

Comment by suzie on April 25, 2012 at 1:35am: i knew nothing of this .. You guys are really amazing wt? and our media reports what now? NOTHING!!

Maria you get 5***** great reporting

Comment by Cryptocurrency on April 25, 2012 at 1:28am: Wow! Look at those pictures. It's crazy to think I was there just two years ago. I can't imagine how I would have reacted had this happened during my stay. Damn thing made me nervous every time it burped a wisp of smoke.