Active volcano

Popcatépetl spews ash: flight cancellations in Mexico

Restless Popocatépetl: 77 eruptions in 24 hours again recently(Bild: APA/AFP/ALFREDO ESTRELLA)

There have been numerous flight cancellations in Mexico due to massive ash eruptions from the Popocatépetl volcano. An ash cloud around 2000 meters high formed on Tuesday and the authorities issued a level 2 out of 3 warning.

They warned that ash could fall in the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico as well as in Mexico City, which is around 90 kilometers away from the volcano. A civil defense report published late Tuesday afternoon stated that 77 eruptions, 952 minutes of tremors and an earthquake had been detected within 24 hours at the 5452-meter-high Popocatépetl.

Numerous jets had to stay on the ground.(Bild: APA/AFP/Daniel SLIM)

Airport: "Flight operations do not have to be suspended"
Mexico City's international airport announced on Tuesday on the online service X (formerly Twitter) that national and international airlines had canceled 22 flights "because ash was found during security checks". However, it was not necessary to suspend flight operations.

Restless Popocatépetl: 77 eruptions in 24 hours again recently(Bild: APA/AFP/ALFREDO ESTRELLA)

Popocatépetl, located in central Mexico between Mexico City and Puebla, is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, as around 25 million people live within a radius of 100 kilometers. The warning level for the volcano was last raised in May last year. At that time, the authorities had classified the emission of smoke, ash and glowing rocks as a danger to aviation and the population in the wider area.