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Popocatépetl erupting hot rocks, Alert Level remains at Yellow, Mexico

popocatepetl-volcano-november-2018

Featured image: Popocatepetl volcano on November 19, 2018. Credit: CENAPRED

Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico is showing signs of increased activity since November 19, 2018. The Alert Level remains at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level on a three-color scale). Residents and tourists are advised not to go near the volcano, especially near the crater, and stay away from ravines.

In 24 hours to 17:00 UTC, November 20, Popocatepetl volcano monitoring network recorded 113 low-intensity exhalations and one explosion at 18:24 UTC, November 19.

A sequence of earthquakes related to the movements of lava was registered after 13:30 LT, November 20 as well as an increase in the amplitude of the tremor after 16:10 LT.

This was accompanied by an emission of steam, gas and small amounts of ash, drifting to the northeast, CENAPRED said in an update released 05:50 UTC, November 21.

The Alert Level remains at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level on a three-color scale).

Located 60 km (37 miles) SE of Mexico City, frequent historical eruptions have been reported from Popocatépetl going back to the 14th century, GVP said in April 2018 bulletin report.

Activity increased in the mid-1990s after about 50 years of quiescence, and the current eruption, which has been ongoing since January 2005, has included frequent ash plumes and numerous episodes of lava-dome growth and destruction within the 500-m-wide (1 640 feet) summit caldera. 

Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.

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