Mexico Volcano Eruption: Popocatepetl Spews Volcanic Ash 20,000 Feet Into the Sky, Authorities Prepare for Possible Evacuation

Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico erupted earlier this week, spewing volcanic ash that reached more than 20,000 feet into the sky. It also emitted volcanic gas and water vapor, prompting potential threats to its surrounding areas. Mexican seismic authorities are monitoring the stratovolcano's activity, stating as of Thursday, November 16, that it is in constant emission of the said volcanic substances and hazards. There were no casualties reported from the eruption as of Friday, November 17.

Although the Mexico volcano eruption is not a major one, local authorities are preparing for an evacuation of inhabitants in areas around the volcano, which can further intensify with little or without warning. Popocatepetl is also one of Mexico's most active volcanoes and one of the world's many volcanoes erupting simultaneously this week. Similar heightened volcanic activities have been reported in Italy and Iceland, where the town of Grindavik has been evacuated.

Mexico Volcano Eruption

Popocatepetl is currently under alert level yellow or phase two, which means that Mexico's National Center for the Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED) is on high alert and preparing for a possible evacuation should volcanic activity of the volcano intensifies. The volcano alert is activated when there are changes in volcanic activity, like releasing volcanic hazards mentioned earlier.

In its report on Thursday, November 16, CENAPRED detected 25 exhalations with volcanic gases and sometimes ash from Popocatepetl. It also cited a report from the National Center for Communication and Operations of Civil Protection (CENACOM) that slight ash fall were recorded in the municipalities of Tepalcingo, Hueyapan; Jonacatepec, Morelos; and Tetela del Volcan, Morelos.

Is Popocatepetl Volcano Active?

Popocatepetl, which means "Smoking Mountain", is an active stratovolcano and is the second most active volcano in Mexico. In terms of volcanic eruption threat and potential danger to human population, Popocatepetl volcano ranks as the highest in Mexico and North America, according to the Natural History Museum (NHM). For hundreds of centuries, the Mexico volcano had been recorded to undergo multiple eruptions.

Earlier this year, the United States Embassy in Mexico issued a volcano alert, warning that Popocatepetl in May exhibited increased volcanic activity. The May 2023 rumbling of the volcano reportedly threatened 22 million in Mexico.

Popocatepetl is in the Mexican provinces of Mexico, Morelos, and Puebla in the central part of the country and specifically in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. It is situated 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City, which is a testament to its relatively close proximity to heavily populated centers.

According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, Popocatepetl has shown eruptive activity from November 8 to November 14, which it is accompanied by the emission of plumes of steam, gas, and ash. There was no mention of significant lava from the Mexico volcano recently. However, the possibility of an imminent major eruption has not been ruled out yet.