SAN NICOLAS DE LOS RANCHOS, STATE OF MEXICO, Mexico (Reuters) – Mexican authorities warned of potential for major activity at the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City on Wednesday (April 6) after observing an increased level of explosive activity in recent months.
In the last two weeks alone, the Popocatepetl volcano, located some 50 miles (80 km) to the southeast of the capital, has exploded on several occasions resulting in the expulsion of gases and smoking, incandescent fragments.
Due to this increased activity, authorities have carried out permanent flyovers to inspect the crater with the support of the federal police, staff from the centre and civil protection authorities.
Vulcanologists have detected the presence of a lava dome of about 300 metres (984 feet) in diameter that has filled the inner crater of the volcano almost to the floor level of the main crater, the centre said in a news release.
The alert level for the towering volcano, often known as “Popo,” is currently yellow phase two. It is the fourth-highest warning on the centre’s seven-step scale.
Hugo Delgado, a vulcanologist from the Department of Geophysics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), said magma expulsion and explosions of increasing intensity have been seen in the 5,450-metre (17,900-foot) volcano, due to the formation of lava that prevents the escape of gases.
“The Popocatepetl volcano’s current eruption started in December 1994 and since then it has recurrently had events of larva formation within its crater and eventually these bodies of lava have obstructed the escape of gases, which results in their accumulation and explosions that destroys the bodies of lava,” Delgado said.
Delgado said lava would eventually spill over.
“The crater is basically full of fragments due to all of these explosions during the moment of destruction of different bodies of lava. The material that remains fills the crater. What will happen, surely, at one point if the eruption activity continues up until now, is that eventually bodies of lava will be formed that will eventually spill over the volcano,” Delgado said.
For residents of the quaint town of San Nicolas de Los Ranchos located on the outskirts of Popcatepetl it is business as usual. Long used to having one of the world’s most active volcano’s on their doorstep, the town is prepared for its increased rumblings.
Local authorities in San Nicolas de los Ranchos said officials are keeping the small town briefed over any potential change to the volcano’s status.
Schools in town Santiago Xalizintla in the state of Puebla, are also on alert in case of a change in activity. In the past, pupils have been given surgical masks to protect them from falling ash and gases from Popocatepetl.
With up to 50,000 residents across 24 towns at risk from volcanic gases and lava flow from Popocatepetl, locals are taking no chances with the volcano and are prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Popocatepetl has belched smoke and ash sporadically over the last few years. A big eruption in 2000 forced the evacuation of nearly 50,000 residents in three states surrounding the volcano.
Mexico contains over 3,000 volcanos but only 14 are considered active.