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Popocatepetl , in the middle of the central volcano-belt in Mexico
It is quite active, and having regularly smaller or larger eruptions, ever since it wakened up againg, after 50 years of sleep.

15 larger eruptions have take place since the spanyards arrived in 1519.
Azteke-indians also have registered eruptions in 1347 and 1354.

Popocatepetl is the second larges volcano in Mexico, and reaches 5.452 meters ASL
Maincrater is 900 meters across, and the areal covered is about 500 square kilometers. Popocatepetl is only about 70 km south east of Mexico City, and 45 km
southwest of the city of Puebla. In december 1994 about 75.000 people had to be evacuated
from the villages closest to the volcano.

Friday, March 11th, 2005
The Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City sent out a plume or ash and steam yesterday,
starting a brush fire that soldiers and emergency crews moved in to control.
The government’s National Council for the Prevention of Disasters said the fire occurred near
the town of San Nicolas de los Ranchos, but did not pose any threat to area residents.

Monday, December 6th, 2004
  
Gas- and vapouremissions, especially forceful yesterday at 19.12 and 20.19 UTC/GMT


An unusual sunrise on the 30th of November, at 06.44 local time.

Since May last year, Popocatepetl has continued with its gas- and vapour emissions, but no
larger eruptions has happended. The pictures above illustrate what is going on, but more or less
not worth writing about. But still we are monitoring Popocatepetl almost daily.

May 1st, 2003
Thirty-five schools near the Popocatepetl volcano canceled classes Wednesday as officials
warned a new eruption could rock the spectacular peak overlooking Mexico City.

Civil defense officials said the volcano could see a moderate explosion of a growing lava dome
in the crater that would spit hot rock roughly three to four kilometers (two to three miles) from
the crater - a pattern that has occurred repeatedly in recent years, causing little damage.
An estimated 62,000 people live in areas that could be affected by a major eruption.

10 buses were standing by Wednesday, ready to evacuate residents in Santiago Xalitzintla
and San Pedro Benito Juarez, towns built in the shadow of the 17,886-foot volcano.

On Monday, a persistent tremor began to shake the ground under the volcano starting
at 5:12 a.m. and by 10:30 a.m., the tremor changed to a pulsation that the center said was
similar to those that preceded other explosions. Tremors can indicate a movement of hot, liquid
rock through the volcanic system.

February 25th, 2003
Yesterday afternoon from CENAPRED: In last the 24 hours the monitoring system of Popocatépetl volcano registered 31 exhalations of loss to moderate intensity, accompanied by emissions of steam of water and occasionally ash-gray gas. The most important were:

At 13:01h, yesterday, a great exhalation moderately accompanied by an ash column in the direction of the East at an approximated height of 3 to 4 km . The event lasted for three minutes initiating with an explosive phase similar to the one registered on the 22nd of February at 14:36h. were it sent incandescent fragments to a distances of up to 2 km from the crater, particularly on flanks on the Northeast side of the volcano.

Again at 16:15 hrs of yesterday, an exhalation was registered, that were accompanied by an ash column in an ENE directione and at an approximated height of 1 km.

Also, isolated episodes of harmonic tremor of low amplitude were registered, that altogether
lasted less than one hour. The events registered in the last days, are related to the destruction
of the lava dome, mentioned in previous reports

February 17th, 2003
  
From the explosion on February 14th at 05.34 local time...
 
which lasted for only 4,5 minutes.

On February 16th everything was quiet...

At 05:34 h (11:34 GMT) an explosion occurred at the crater throwing incandescent fragments reaching around 3 km on volcano slopes (see movie). A dense ash column reached 5 km and moved towards Northeast. The incandescent fragments set on fire some areas with dry grasses. After the explosive event, with an analog recording lasting 4 minute, the overall activity returned to its previous level.
At 11:00 (17:00 GMT): Besides the explosive event reported earlier during the last 24 hours the monitoring system recorded 20 small to moderate exhalations, low amplitude harmonic tremor during two and a half hours, and a volcanotectonic earthquake with magnitude 2.4 located 4.7 km below the crater. At this moment the overall activity level is stable. The other monitored
parameters remain without important changes. A light emission of steam and gas is observed.

The 05:34 explosive event is related with the partial destruction of the lava dome inside the crater previously reported. As long as there are remains of the dome, there is a probability of explosive activity with ash emissions and incandescent material ejections around the crater.

December 18th, 2002

Early last night at 01:48 hours an exhalation of moderate intensity from Popocatépetl was registered, when an ash column of near 2000 meters of height over the crater followed a signal of tremor of high frequency. Later at 2:09 and 2:14 two explosions with ash emission wewre registered but of 6.000 m asl moving in Northeasterly direction.Incandescent fragments were thrown out of the crater and fell down as far as 1,5 km away (see image) . After these events the volcano returned at its previous levels.

This activity is related to the destruction of a lava dome and it is within the awaited scenes: exhalations of small to moderate intensity, some with ash emissions, observable incandescence during the night and sporadic explosions with incandescent fragment emission to short distance of the crater. Scenes that will be effective for the next hours or days.

This condition does not imply a change in the traffic light of volcanic alert, which stays in
YELLOW phase 2 which means a restriction of access in a radius of 12 km, and which solely allows controlled transit between Santiago Xalitzintla, Courteous San and, Puebla Passage Pedro Nexapa, Edo. of Mexico.

August 31st, 2001


Today, a volcano-tectonic micro-earthquake of magnitude 2.0 located 5 km below the crater.
At the moment of this report CENAPRED observes the volcano covered with snow in its
summit and with a dense steam and gas fumarole that rises 400 m. above the crater.
The activity observed last week is related the the growth of a new small dome (see image above). The present activity does not represent a change in the forseen scenarios, therefore,
the traffic light of volcanic alert is maintained yellow-2. It is recommended not to approach the volcano to less than 12 km from the crater, although the road between Santiago
Xalitzintla (Puebla) and San Pedro Nexapa (Mexico State), including Paso de Cortés,
is open for controlled circulation. It ispossible that explosive activity as that of July 3,
will continue during the next days or weeks.

July 10th, 2001
  
Pictures at 10.15 , 10.16 and 10,37 GMT / z
 
11.20 GMT and 11.40 GMT
 
11.50 and 12.00 GMT
10.16z: No news yet, but pictures showing Popocatepetl erupting now.
11.50z So far it looks like a moderate eruption.
more to follow

July 4th, 2001
Small eruption on Tuesday 3rd July. Popocatepetl volcano shot a plume of ash and gas about
2 1/2 miles into the air on Tuesday 3rd July, dropping some ash on cities near the Mexican
capital and delaying some flights from its airport. A dense plume was visible over the
17,886 -foot volcano at dawn Tuesday.

The first sizable emission occurred at 4:10 a.m., followed by a larger eruption at 6:50 a.m.
The volcano has been closely monitored since Dec. 18, when it spewed red-hot rock in its most violent eruption in 1,200 years, prompting thousands who live at its base to flee to shelters. The National Center for the Prevention of Disasters said there was a light fall of ash on Mexico City's southeastern suburbs. Mexico's two main airlines, Mexicana and Aeromexico, briefly suspended takeoffs from Mexico City airport while they analyzed whether the ash could damage the jet engines of airliners, said airport spokesman Jose Luis Orive. Arrivals were not affected.
Orive said there was a "very minimal" fall of ash at the airport on the eastern edge of the city. (LATimes)

January 26th, 2001
At 13:38 local time, 19.38 GMT,, an exhalation, accompanied of tremor of high frequency
took place. The exhalation reached a height of about 3 km, and in the direction of the northwest. At the time of this report, the continuous exhalation and the tremor have diminished considerably. Slight ash fall was reported in the zone near San Pedro Nexapa.

January 24th, 2001
From CENAPRED at 02.00 GMT today: In last the 6 hours, the volcano have maintained an activity low. 7 moderate exhalations have appeared, some of them accompanied by slight ash emissions. During late, the visibility allowed us to observe a fumarola of water steam in the direction of the Southeastern South, which rose less 1 km.

From News-media: Last two days Popo spat hot rocks half a mile from its crater and gritty ash showered nearby towns, including Puebla, a city of 1.2 million people 25 miles east of the crater. More ominous was a small mudslide of volcanic ash down the Huiloac canyon that leads to the town of Santiago Xalitzintla. Officials consider mudslides of built-up ash one of the gravest
dangers posed by the volcano. The National Center for the Prevention of Disasters said the slide Monday was probably caused by flows of hot ash from the crater melting part of a glacier
near the summit. The slide stopped five miles short of the town.

January 23rd, 2001 - 2nd update

At 15.50 CET this very afternoon-
Looks like Popo won't give up???

January 23rd, 2001
 

The eruption on January 22nd, at 16:17, 17:33 and 19:10 local time
Translated directly from CENAPRED: After a period of several weeks of reduced activity,
today in the evening Popocate'petl volcano increased again their levels. To 14:58 a volcano-tectonic earthquake of magnitude 2,8 was detected, located to the East of the crater. The
event was possibly precursory of a great exhalation that it initiated to 16:15 hrs generating
an ash column of several kilometers of height. 16:23 a phase of greater explosive intensity
was observed, during which fragments around the crater were sent. To the few minutes
several ash flows were generated (pirocla'sticos) that descended by several from the gorges
of the volcano until distances considered preliminarily of 4 to 6 km. These flows were visible
by our camera throughout ravines of the North face of the volcano and also in flank the West.
To the 16:40 ash emission it had reached a greater height of 8 km on the level of the crater. Around the 18:00 hrs began to register a signal of fluctuating harmonic tremor in amplitude
and that sometimes arrived at the saturation levels. These signals, similars to the registered ones
in last December, could be associate with a possible intrusio'n of magma to the interior of the crater. This harmonic tremor lasted approximately by space of 30 minutes. One stayed the
ash emission abundant being observed in put in form explosive episodes.

January 12th, 2001
All activity has been below normal last week.

January 5th, 2001
At 19:04 GMT yesterday night a moderate exhalation was registered that produced an ash emission of 2,5 km of height and that the winds dispersed towards the East. Previous to this exhalation a signal of tremor of high frequency was registeredwith an approximated duration
of 1 hour.

January 3rd, 2001 in the evening
  
16.48 GMT and 16.54 this very afternoon - Popo doesn't seem to give up.....

At 17.15 GMT from CENAPRED: Yet another exhalation, sending ash and vapour
about 2.000 m up in the air.

January 3rd, 2001 at noon

12:00 GMT: In last the eight hours a total of 17 events happened, of which are the following ones: at 22:32 (local time) and 22:34 happened two small exhalations; later, at 22:55 and 22:56 happened other two moderate exhalations without emission of incandescent material; later, at 23:16happened another small exhalation accompanied by tremor. At 23:19 and 23:21 appeared two tremores of LF with duration of about 35 seconds each one. At 23:23 and 23:25 two small exhalations; at 04:46happened another smaller exhalation, followed of another similar; and at 04:50began another tremor, followed by a small exhalation. It is mentioned that the other parameters of monitoreo do not show appreciable changes.
But believe this is good enough for today???

January 2nd, 2001
17:00 GMT yesterday, it was reported little activity in the volcano.Only few exhalations with steam, gas and sometimes with ash. A fumarola of water steam and something of ash, that
rises 0,5 km on the crater has been the only sign seen, owing to extremelly bad weather.

At 02:15 GMT today it was reported that around midnight, there were a beginning of tremor
of high frequency that was accompanied by a steam emission by water, gas and low amounts
of ash, that reached a peak altitude of 800 ms on the crater and that, according to field
information, dispersed in Northeast direction (image 3).. Around the 01.43 GMT the
activity recovered its previous levels.

December 31st, 2000
Stormy weather, smaller eruptions, ashfall in nearby villages and in Pueblo.
Several thousand evacuates have been allowed to return home.

December 28th, 2000

06.09 local time, 13.09 GMT

quiet at the moment....and at 12.59 and 13.09 GMT, to smaller exhalations. no more...

December 27th, 2000

06.33 local time, 12.33 GMT

03.00 GMT CEN APRED reports that all is quiet, and nothing has happened since the last eruption at 12.01 yesterday.

08:25 GMT CENAPRED reports that in last 5 hours four events happened, two of which were very weak emissions 21:09 and 21:32 local hour) with steam of water and gases. The third event was explosion at 01:11 local time (GMT +6), with emission of incandescent material on flanks on the southeastern and northeastern slopes, and raised a column about 2 km above the cra'ter.The fourth event happened at 01:32 local hour with smaller intensity and without emission of incandescent material. We are following Popocatepetl all day. (Dailight comes at 12.20 GMT)

13.00 GMT. In the last the 4 hours , two events of tremor and one exhalation happened: the first tremor was of high frequency at 04:05 (local time) and had a duration of 1 minute 20 seconds and second tremor at 06:15 hours (local time) with duration of 2 minutes 30 seconds. The exhalation happened at 06:29 (local time) with emission of incandescent material towards the northeast flank, raising a column about 1300 meters above the rater, accompanied by little ash, water steam and gases.

December 26th, 2000
  
00.18 GMT                              00.19                                       00.20
At 00.45 GMT, CENAPRED reported an exhalation of moderate size, sending an ash-cloud 3.000 m upwards, then drifting nordeast. Also incadescent material was thrown out, but not more than 500 m away from the rim. Later activity returned to normal.

02.05 GMT, At 02.55 happened another exhalation, this time also including incadescnet material, but still not over 500 m away.

04.50 GMT Minor seismic activity, else quiet and peaceful....

12.00 GMT Moderate explosion sent vapour and gas up 3.000 meters above the volcano,
and incandescent fragments between 500m and 1.000m away from the craterrim.
This eruption was of short duration.

December 25th, 2000
23:30 GMT December 24th. At 21.55 GMT a moderateexplosion was registered, which generated an ash column that reached a height of 5.000 m above the crater, and threw incandescent fragments to a distance of 3.500 meters from the top. After this event a signal of tremor of high frequency with tendency was registered. This is s type that gives reason to hope
it represents a manifestation of the destruction of the lava dome located in the interior of the
crater. Reports of ash fall were received in Santiago Xalitzintla.

December 24th, 2000
04.20 GMT: Last hours has shown low activity. A smaller quake, magnitued 2.6, was observed well below the crater. Still warning for the possibility that another eruption will come within hours or days. This is a common expression from vulcanologs, but also means that there might
not be any eruption at all. But with Popocatepetl you can never tell, so we keep up
following closely.

21.30 GMT, December 23rd: Last hours quiet. Small fumarole-activity. Airplane flew over the crater today, and the dome can easily be observed in the center of the picture. A small depression can also be seen.

Desember 23rd, 2000

06.30 local time, 12.30 GMT today Desember 23rd

22.desember 2000

13.08 GMT, 07.08 local time
innocent as ever....

17.00 GMT: still quiet. According to El Informador, CENAPRED has told that the dome
only went down 1 %during eruption tuesday, and consists of about 19.millione squaremeter of lava. While quiet, things are still happening down below.

7.000 people still have not evacuated from the danger-zone of 13 kilometers.
Also several people have returned to their homes, despite the order of evacuation.
At the same time about 2000 military- and police personell is guarding the emptied towns.

Desember 21st, 2000

  
From the eruption December 19th
copyright NOTIMEX

Ashcloud from Popocatepetl to the left
to Yucatan-peninsula in eastern Mexico.

A strange light has been captured going from - or to-
the erution-cloud, - found the picture on NOTIMEX
copyright NOTIMEX

20.desember 2000 middag

05.41 GMT December 20th 2000 finally time to take a breath

14.47 GMT did you say that there was an eruption?

Ice-cap on top coloured black by ash. Afraid the heat from
Popo will melt the ice, and come down as lahar

20.desember 2000 morgen
06.30 GMT. Hot volcanic material has been thrown as far as 1 to 2 kilometers from the crater. Harmonich tremors indicate upcoming magma.

Kl. 21.00 GMT yesterday, quakes continued for the past 5 hours. Eruptioncloud reaches 3.000 m above the crater, blowing south. Satellite-pictures shown the cloud is visible over most of Mexico.

 
dome grewing.... 19/12.00

 
thick and thin layer of ash in central Mexico

So far, hot ash has been blown toward the City of Puebla (map here), a city with
a population of 1.8 millions. The number of evacuated people from the area closer to the volcano has increased to 56.000 from 38 different villages.

Tuesday morning the villages closest to the volcano looked like ghost-towns. Roads were closed by military patrols. Also the airport in the City of Puebla was closed.

December 19th, 2000

from the eruption early this morning
copyright El Universal

12.53. GMT
eruption ongoing - more text to come soon

  
08.21 GMT and 13.07 GMT on tuesday
  
copyright NOTIMEX     copyright El Universal


02.20GMT: Since late yesterday evening harmonic tremors has been increasing.At 23.51 a minor explosion sent an ashcloud 1500 upwards, and at 00.36 a glowing light could be observed on the rim of the crater, which increased glowing untill 01.10. Three minutes later an explosion sent glowing material down the slopes up to 1.000 m, and another ash-cloud rose up to 4.000 m above the top. Half an hour later it had reached 15 kilometers away.


December 18th, at. 21.15 GMT. Ash-cloud moving east
and north-east. Distance to Mexico City about 70 km.

December 18th, 2000
  
Another eruption yesterday at 21.30 GMT, picture to the left. Since then activity
diminished, and went back to normal around midnight - picture at right.

Up to 02.30 reports of falling ash came from Amecameca. Huehuecalco,
San Pedro Nexapa, Ecatzingo, Ozumba, Tecomatuxco, Tejopulco and Tepetlixpa.
(View map here).

December 17th, 2000 afternoon

Eruption from minute to minute - photos: click here

new dome showing up inside the crater, saturday December 16th

17.desember 2000 morgen

Saturday most inhabitants in the villages where evacuation should be maintained, were ignoring
the volcano, and looked curiosly at the official cars driving through the area, calling for the
attention of the inhabitans, encouraging them to leave, for their own good - and for their family's good.

Again back to the old problem. A volcano is spewing out smoke over a period. The ash is falling down, and makes the soil good for farmers. The area around the volcano lies in a risk-zone, so price for a piece of earth is cheap - in some cases even free...

Poor people come to live here, and get aquainted to the danger. So one day the risk increases - now there is danger for the volcano to explode. One ought to evacuate. But how about the animals - and who's going to guard their belongings? And where to go?

How are the government to convince people that now there is a real danger, when everything looks like is always has? Seems like we have heard that before. As for Baños at Tungurahua, Lloa at Guagua Pichincha, the farmers at Santa Maria,
Mayon and Pinatubo and so on. But how to solve that problem?

December 16th at noon

07.00 local time, 13.00 GMT December 16th
no further comments...

December 16th, 2000 - morning

Copyright Yahoo Inc REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar

Risk-zone increased from 7 to 10 kilometer from the volcano. Alert status up from phase 2 to 3 YELLOW, last stop before RED alert.

Now news about Popocatepetl has come to the news-agencies - to the front-pages of the
mexican news-papers, and YAHOO has a good picture-story at
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=volcano&n=20&c=news_photos

Thursday falling ash was reported as far away as 80 kilometers from the volcano, and
glowing material was rolling down the slopes. Thursday and friday showed more than
200 eruptions per day - the previous record was 180 on a single day. People near the
volcano useds masks or handkerchiefs to cover their mouth and nose.


Zone 1: Great risk, fragments up to 30 cm falls down, with larger erutions even greater.
Zone 2: risk, fragments less than 1 cm, with larger erutions up to 1 meter.
All area on map would be covered by ash with a large eruption.

December 15th, 2000

14.00 GMT today December 15th.

December 14th, 2000

Popocatepetl continues erupting ash and gas.. This picture from 13.20 GMT to day.

Early in the morning, December 14th

From December 12th eruption

December 13th

Popocatepetl before December 7th, 2000 - click here! (in norwegian)