Popocatépetl volcano erupts over central Mexico: What we know
The country’s largest active volcano began erupting late last week, and millions of people are facing possible evacuation orders.
Three million people living near Mexico’s nearly 18,000-foot Popocatépetl volcano are facing evacuation orders as it continues to spew ash across the region, forcing schools to close and hundreds of flights to be delayed or canceled.
Here’s everything we know about the volcano and its impact on those living near it, culled from original reporting and Yahoo’s partner network, including the New York Times, NBC News and other publications.
Where is the volcano located?
Popocatépetl, the country’s largest active volcano, is located in the states of Puebla, Morelos, and the state of Mexico in central Mexico. Approximately 25 million people live within a 60-mile radius of the volcano, which is 45 miles southeast of Mexico City.
When was its last major eruption?
The volcano was inactive for decades before an eruption in 1994. In 2000, a major eruption prompted the evacuation of about 50,000 people in the region. Since then, mild to moderate activity has been seen from the volcano, or “smoking mountain” as it is known by locals.
When did the recent activity begin?
Popocatépetl began erupting earlier this month after officials detected activity coming from it in mid-April. A satellite operated by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey captured images of some of the volcano's spring activity on April 14.
A time-lapse video posted to Facebook by the National Disaster Prevention Center of Mexico on Monday showed the volcano spewing smoke and ash at sunrise.
Is this normal?
“Pretty much,” Jessica Ball, a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told the New York Times.
More volcano coverage from Yahoo News partners
CBS News: Alert level raised for Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico
CNN: Millions prepare for evacuation as Popocatépetl volcano spews ash
AP: Mexicans near Popocatépetl stay vigilant as volcano's activity increases
Fox Weather: Time-lapse video shows Mexico's Popocatépetl belch smoke
USA Today: Volcanoes are erupting, spewing ash on these three continents
The activity is “just part of being an active volcano,” Ball said, and added: “There’s really no cycle on a human time scale that governs which volcanoes erupt at which time.”
OK, so how high are the plumes?
NASA said that researchers have measured plumes as high as 4.5 miles, and forecasters warned that the area just south of Mexico City could see up to 32 millimeters of fall on Monday.
Four and a half miles high?
Yes. Popocatépetl's plume prompted flights to be halted for about five hours at both of Mexico City's main airports on Saturday. As NBC News noted, falling ash in particular can block pilots' view, hinder radio communications and affect jet engines.
What are officials there saying?
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico said at a news conference on Monday morning that he was monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with federal and local officials about the volcano. The National Disaster Prevention Center of Mexico on Sunday raised the alert level for the area around Popocatépetl to phase 3, just shy of an evacuation order.
Sergio Salomón, the governor of the Mexican state of Puebla, said that the roughly 3 million people who live in towns and villages adjacent to the volcano should stay alert and prepare for a possible evacuation.
