Mexico Raises Alert Level for Popocatepetl Volcano After Magma Explosions and Ash Showers

Mexican authorities raised the alert level for the Popo-cate-petl volcano near to Mexico City on Monday (April 16) after it started spewing red-hot fragments of rock.

Mexico's National Centre for Disaster Prevention 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.

The lava dome of famed volcano, some 80 km (50 miles) to the southeast of the capital, started to expand late last week, the centre said.



With up to fifty thousand residents across 24 towns at risk from volcanic gases, rock and lava flow from Popocatepetl, authorities from the central state of Puebla are taking no chances with this recent spate of seismic activity.

Located just six miles from one of the world's most active volcanos, the quaint town of San Pedro Benito Juarez has closed schools.

According to Mexican authorities, the recent change in activity in the 5,450 metre (17,900 foot) volcano could provoke big explosions capable of sending incandescent fragments out over considerable distances, as well as ash showers.

For many long-term residents of San Pedro it is business as usual with many familiar with the volcano they have affectionately called "Don Gregorio."

Experts in Mexico 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.