The eruption southeast of Mexico City was "a major explosive event, totally different to those since the year 2000" and related to a rupture of lava inside the volcano's crater, said Ramon Pena, the director of the local government's Plan Operativo Popocatepetl.
©Unknown |
The volcanic activity started at 6:20 am (1220 GMT) and officials issued a yellow alert, signaling no immediate risk to the local population.
Ash began falling on Puebla, the closest city to the volcano, a couple of hours after the eruption.
During the past 13 years, the volcano has become more active during the month of December. Last week, a two-kilometer (1.5 mile) trail of smoke rose from the volcano but no ash fell.
In 1994, Mexican army troops restricted access to the volcano for a radius of 12 kilometers (seven miles) after a major eruption. The Popocatepetl volcano is the second highest in Mexico at 5,452 meters (17,887 feet) above sea level.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter