According to the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred), activity at the Popocatépetl volcano has diminished, although the yellow Phase 3 warning still remains in place.
On Wednesday, Cenapred reported that in the previous 24 hours, El Popo (as the volcano is commonly known) had seen 315 exhalations, 502 minutes of high-frequency tremors of low-to-medium amplitude, and two explosions — one at 2:23 p.m. and the other at 5:08 p.m. On Thursday at 11:49 a.m., the agency reported there were 219 exhalations and 11 minutes of high-frequency tremors in the previous 24 hours.
The volcano also spewed incandescent fragments at a short distance from the crater, as well as water vapor, volcanic gasses and ash. The quantity of ash was less than in previous weeks.
A tectonic 1.6-magnitude earthquake was also registered at 9:52 a.m. on Wednesday.
Since El Popo’s increased activity began on May 16, winds have blown ash over the states of Puebla, Tlaxcala and Morelos. Towns in the vicinity of volcano have been coated with layers of volcanic ash.
According to Mexican authorities, the yellow Phase 3 alert — one notch below the red Phase 1 alert status that could mandate evacuation — indicates low to intermediate “explosive eruptive activity,” low to moderate ashfall, “significant” growth of lava domes and the possibility of magma expulsions.
