Friday, December 6, 2024

Explosions, two-kilometer ash plumes at El Popo volcano

The restless Popocatépetl volcano had a very active 24 hours starting yesterday morning, with several explosions and ash plumes that rose as high as two kilometers above the mountain.

The National Disaster Prevention Center (Cenapred) said this morning it had identified 20 gas and water vapor exhalations at El Popo, with the first three recorded yesterday at 9:56am. The most recent was recorded this morning at 7:04.

Wind sent the ash in a north-northeast direction away from the crater.

There were also two recorded episodes of harmonic tremors — a sustained release of seismic and infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma — lasting five and 10 hours respectively.

There was a slight ash fall in the Tlaxcala towns of Tlaxco, Xalostoc, Nativitas, Hueyotlipan, Amaxac de Guerrero, Tepetitlá de Lardizábal and Texoloc.

Cenapred said the activity was expected to continue, as will the wind direction.

The agency advises the public to stay away from the volcano, especially from its crater, due to the release of water vapor and gas plumes and a light fall of ash in nearby areas, along with incandescent fragments.

The alert level also warns of the possibility of eruptions causing pyroclastic flows and mudslides carrying debris, although at such a small scale that evacuation of neighboring inhabited areas is not required.

A security perimeter is in place in a 12-kilometer radius of the crater, and traffic is controlled at Paso de Cortés between the towns of Santiago Xalitzintla and San Pedro Nexapa.

In case of rain, people should avoid deep ravines due to the slide hazard.

Source: El Financiero (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A pyramid surrounded by ladders and scaffolding sits right next to a highway

INAH calls off work at Hidalgo pyramid due to budget cuts

0
The pyramid was briefly uncovered during road work earlier this year, then government archaeologists re-buried it.
A masked doctor attends to a tiny infant in a hospital incubator

Possible IV bag contamination kills 13 children in México state hospitals

0
At least 15 patients were infected by Klebsiella oxytoca, a life-threatening and potentially antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
View of Kiosko Morisco, a beautiful landmark of Santa María la Ribera (CDMX)

Know your Mexico City neighborhood: Santa María la Ribera

0
All the convenience of city center living, with a heavy dash of Mexico - Bethany Platanella explores another of the capital's great neighborhoods.