El Popo’s ash fall closes Puebla airport
Eruptions seen at both El Popo and Colima Volcano this month
Two of Mexico’s most active volcanoes have been somewhat more active than usual in recent weeks, and the ash fall from one of them closed Puebla’s airport yesterday.
The airport resumed operations at 7:00am today after crews finished cleaning volcanic ash from the runways overnight.
The airport was closed yesterday afternoon after exhalations by the volcano Popocatépetl.
The National Disaster Prevention Center (Cenapred) reported there were nine hours of activity yesterday, which included eight eruptions, and further activity again early this morning, when increased incandescence was visible during exhalations.
Also known as El Popo, the volcano is situated 55 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes during its last major eruption in 2000.
Straddling the border between the states of Colima and Jalisco, the Colima Volcano was active earlier this month. Explosions with high ash content, accompanied by eruption lightning, were seen on January 3.
The renewed activity at Colima, also known as the Volcano of Fire, has prompted tour company Volcano Discovery to offer a four-day expedition where participants can learn more about the volcano with a geologist-volcanologist guide and take photos.
The February 15-19 tour will use various viewing locations both day and night, while accommodation will be provided about seven kilometers from the summit.
Source: El Universal (sp)
- A fragment of rock from El Popo during an eruption in May 2013.
