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The agency said the area has been closed to visitors and urged people to stay at least seven miles (12 kilometers) from the crater, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Mexico's capital. It also recommended that people in the surrounding areas clean ash from weak rooftops and to cover their mouths to avoid inhaling it.
Popocatepetl -- located just 60 kilometers from Mexico City and considered the planet's riskiest volcano
The traffic light alert signal remains in Yellow Phase 3. This level implies: 1. Announcing the situation and measures taken to the public and the media.2. Prepare personnel, equipment and evacuation shelters. 3. Implement specific measures in the most vulnerable.4. Implement preventive measures against ash fall, lahars and against fragments in vulnerable regions.5. Alert air navigation systems.6. Limit access to the volcano over a larger area. Popocatepetl Volcano is monitored continuously. The next report will be edited tomorrow at 07:00 h (local time).
The volcano's last major eruption occurred in 2000, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents who live at the base of the peak. Volcanic activity has increased this year, and experts say that while it is a scary prospect, it can help prevent a larger-scale disaster as the plumes of water and ash release mounting pressure.
Popocatepetl is one of the most violent volcanoes in Mexico, having had more than 15 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. A major eruption occurred in 1947 to begin this cycle of activity. Then, on December 21, 1994, the volcano spewed gas and ash which was carried as far as 25 km (16 mi) away by prevailing winds. The activity prompted the evacuation of nearby towns and scientists to begin monitoring for an eruption. In December 2000, tens of thousands of people were evacuated by the government based on the warnings of scientists. The volcano then made its largest display in 1,200 years.
Michael F. Sheridan, a University of Buffalo geologist who last year joined Siebe and others in preparing a comprehensive hazards map for the volcano, said this week: "The chances of a major eruption are greater when a volcano goes into another strong pulse like we are seeing."
But he added, "Before this could happen, we would see many more warning signs. I would expect before a big eruption there would be a lot more seismicity and ground deformation, and we haven't seen that yet. But the sulfur emission is tremendous."
Popocatepetl has had 16 eruptive periods since the Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1519, but none have caused a major loss of life or property.
More than 20 million people live within a 62-mile radius of the volcano's cone; Mexico City is 40 miles to the northwest.
Originally posted by lke123
one of the most interesting things is that UFO are constantly seen near the popocatepetl
Do you know that POPO in spanish means #?. In english the name would be: #catepetl
The name Popocatepetl comes from the Nahuatl words popōca 'it smokes' and tepētl 'mountain', meaning Smoking Mountain. The name Don Goyo comes from the mountain's association in the lore of the region with San Gregorio (St. Gregory), "Goyo" being a nickname-like short form of Gregorio.