Popocatepetl Volcano Erupts: VIDEO Shows Crater Smoke

Mexico’s erupting Popocatepetl volcano is continuing to spew large clouds of ash and vapor into the sky.

Local TV footage showed large plumes of smoke rising from the mountain, which is in the state of Puebla, Morelos and Mexico State. The volcano has been showing an increased activity for the past week, and the alert level remains at ‘yellow’ level 3.

The volcano has registered 79 exhalations of low to moderate magnitude over the past 24 hours, emitting water vapour, gas and ash, according to local media reports, quoting the National Centre for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED).

“El Popo”, as it is commonly known, has emitted small eruptions of ash almost daily since a round of eruptive activity began in 1994. There are some 25 million people who live within a 60-mile radius of the volcano. Mexico City residents awoke at the weekend to find, for the first time in years, a fine layer of volcanic dust on their cars.

The prevailing winds usually blow the dust in other directions. The volcano is about 40 miles from Mexico City airport which is, in turn, a few miles east of the city center.

Popocatepetl means “smoking mountain'” in the Aztec language.

VIDEO