This is the moment Mexico’s mighty Popocatepetl volcano erupts sending a huge column of ash over three miles into the air.
Popocatepetl, an active volcano located in the states of Puebla and Morelos in central Mexico, erupted at 6.44am on 17th June and the local authorities have raised the alert to yellow phase two.
Video Credit: CEN/@CNPC_MX
Reports said that the blast sent ash and debris five kilometres (3.1 miles) into the air.
Meanwhile, winds sent the ash cloud westwards in the direction of capital Mexico City.
Video Credit: CEN/@flaccocarlos
Mexico’s Civil Protection authority has asked residents to take care due to the falling ash and cover their nose, mouth and eyes, and drink lots of clean water.
About 25 million people live within a 60-mile radius of the active volcano’s crater
The current security perimeter has been kept to 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) and traffic between the areas of Santiago Xalitzintla and San Pedro Nexapa is being controlled, according to reports.
Mexico’s Centre for Prevention of Disasters (Cenapred) is constantly monitoring the volcano and said that there have been two eruptions and 166 minutes of tremors in the 24-hour period.
The name Popocatepetl comes from the Nahuatl language and means ‘Smoking Mountain’. It is also referred to by Mexicans as ‘El Popo’.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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