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 truth on July 5, 2013 at 10:37am: Popocatepetl Blows It's Top:Dozens Of Flights Grounded

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Mexico On Alert As Popocatepetl Spews Steam

Seismic activity has increased at Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City, causing authorities to impose a seven-mile exclusion zone around the crater.

Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Centre said the 17,886ft white-capped volcano spewed a plume of steam more than half a mile into the sky and over the weekend lava was thrown out over the crater.

The government has sent soldiers and police to the area in the event of a bigger eruption, with the authorities in towns in two central states placed on alert.

Shelters have been prepared in the states of Mexico and Puebla.

Popocatepetl has emitted small eruptions of ash almost daily since a round of activity began in 1994.

The eruptions began strengthening two weeks ago and have increased over the weekend.

Comment by Maria De Wind on May 13, 2013 at 11:11am: yellow phase 3 Alert

Today, just a few minutes ago Alert was raised to RED after explosive eruptions shaked the States of Puebla, Mexico and the Federal District. People living close to the volcano are being evacuated by the Mexican Army.