The Popocatepetl volcano, located a few hours from Mexico City, has seen minor eruptions in recent days and has scattered ash over nearby towns and disrupted air traffic at Latin America’s busiest airport.

Following hundreds of explosions, lava flows down the side of the volcano’s snow-capped peak, called Popo by Mexicans, and ash blows as far as Mexico City, where 25 million people live ten miles from the mountain. .

Volcanologists doubt a major eruption is imminent, but small explosions are likely to continue in the future, as they have done for three decades since the last eruption began in 1994. Popocatepetl has been active for half a million years ago, but the last major eruption was a thousand years ago.

The authorities are on alert, but not particularly worried. Nevertheless, constant small explosions can become a problem, especially in the nearest towns, but also in Mexico City. The ash is not toxic, but it can cause breathing difficulties and poor air quality, and also continues to disrupt air traffic at Mexico City airport.

Already on Saturday, the airport had to close for a few hours, and it is feared that heavy ashes could cause the collapse of fragile houses. The ash is blowing mostly south now, but the wind is expected to change in June so the ash will arrive in Mexico City in greater quantities.

– The only danger right now is ashes. People shouldn’t be afraid, but they should take precautions, says researcher Servanda de la Cruz Reyna.

(© NTB)