Popocatepetl Volcano Alert Level Raised

Popocatepetl peppers Mexico City with ash, airlines suspend flights

Increased level of explosive activity at Popocatepetl prompts Mexican authorities to raise the volcano warning to the third-highest level on the center’s seven-step scale.

Several airlines have reportedly suspended flights into Mexico City after ash from the massive volcano fell on the the capital and nearby towns.

Popocatepetl ejects volcanic blocks, July 5, 2013. Source: CENAPRED

Latest Bulletin:  July 06 15:00 h (July 05, 20:00 GMT)

Because of the increased activity of the Popocatepetl volcano, the National Coordination of Civil Protection (CNPC) of the Ministry of Interior (SEGOB), the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) and Scientific Advisory Committee determined in agreement, to raise the volcanic alert level from yellow phase 2 to yellow phase 3.

The Volcanic Alert Level is at Yellow, Phase 3.

Explosive activity at Popocatepetl summit crater-
July 5, 2013. Source: CENAPRED

Explosive activity at Popocatepetl, viewed from TLAMACAS station –  July 5, 2013.  Popocatépetl Volcano (“smoking mountain” in Aztec) is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The massive stratovolcano stands 5,450m high and lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles)  southeast of  Mexico City (19.023°N, 98.622°W ) in the eastern segment of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Mexico’s Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has warned of large scale explosions, with high probability of  incendiary fragments and ash showers. Image source:  CENAPRED, Mexico.

Earlier bulletin  177 SEGOB – Posted July 06 11:00 h (July 05, 16:00 GMT)

In the last 24 hours monitoring system Popocatepetl volcano has registered 20 hours and low to high frequency tremor, accompanied by a persistent emission of a column of gas and ash that reached 3 kilometer height, northwest direction. Additionally the monitoring system has registered 4 hours of high intensity harmonic tremor. There were also 3 explosive events of moderate magnitude, the most important of which was presented this morning at 00:33 h. Due to weather conditions due to the weather it was not possible to observe the volcano during these events. However, in the early hours of the morning the continuous emission of gases and ash that reached more than 2 miles high and heading northwest was observed. (see image 1).

The Volcanic Alert Level is at Yellow, Phase 2.

CENAPRED places particular emphasis in the following recommendations:

1. Access is restricted within a radius of 12 km from the crater. Permanence in this area is not allowed.

2. The road between Santiago Xalitzintla (Puebla) and San Pedro Nexapa (Mexico State), including Paso de Cortes, is open only to controlled traffic.

 

Explosive Activity Increases at Popocatépetl

Volcán Popocatépetl Alert Level Raised to 3

Mexcio’c National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED), has raised the volcanic activity alert to Yellow Phase 3  from Yellow Phase 2 on Sunday, after detecting  increased level of explosive activity at the towering volcano.

Yellow Phase 3 alert means the volcano could explode ejecting lava and other volcanic matter over considerable distances, according to CENAPRED chart.

The 5,452-m Volcán Popocatépetl, or “smoking mountain” in Aztec, North America’s 2nd-highest volcano, sits about 70 km SE of Mexico City.

Volcán Popocatépetl 

(Image source: CENAPRED)

VolcanoCams

• Altzomoni Station
• Tlamacas Station
• Tianguismanalco Station
• Tochimilco Station

Drought Threatens Food Security in West Africa

Millions of people facing severe food crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa

A severe drought has led to a poor harvest, especially in Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Mali, and Burkina Faso, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

• Sahel region’s agricultural production has fallen by at least 25 percent since 2010.
• The region’s grain harvest is down by at least 1.4 million metric tons, reports said.
•  Mauritania, the worst hit country, has experienced a 52 percent drop in crop production since last year.
• Drought has also slashed Sahelian cereal production by 26 percent as compared to last year, said FAO.
• Chad and Gambia are experiencing 50 percent drops in their productions.
• Food prices in the region have risen by about 25 percent above the 5-year average, with further rises of up to 30 percent anticipated in the next few months.
• “The combined threat of drought, high food prices, displacement and chronic poverty is affecting millions of people in 2012 as a new food crisis emerges across the Sahel Region. Food insecurity and malnutrition are recurrent in the region with more than 16 million people directly at risk this year.” FAO said.
• “Severe fodder shortages are leading to early transhumance and changing livestock corridors, causing tensions to rise between communities and at border areas.”

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

• Hawaii. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii following widespread damage caused by severe storms, flooding, and landslides during the period of March 3-11, 2012.

• Mexico. Popocatépetl Volcano Update

Popocatépetl Volcano (April 19, 2012 @ 00:53:07GMT) 

Popocatépetl Volcano (“smoking mountain” in Aztec) is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The massive stratovolcano stands 5,450m high and lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles)  southeast of  Mexico City (19.023°N, 98.622°W ) in the eastern segment of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Mexico’s Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has warned of large scale explosions, with high probability of  incendiary fragments and ash showers. Image source:  CENAPRED, Mexico.

The following is the latest bulletin issued by CENAPRED

April 19 07:00 (Apr 19  12:00 GMT)

The monitoring system of Popocatepetl detected 15 exhalations middle range, the most important one occurred yesterday at 19:51 hrs. driving a considerable amount of ash the eastern direction (see Figure 4) . Likewise there was 2h 30min with tremor which began at 00:34 hrs (local time)and ended at 03:05 hrs. (local time) The images and features of the tremor can be found in the previous update.

Apr 19 02:30 (07:30 GMT Apr 19)
At 00:34 hrs began registering a spasmodic tremor with some signs of exhalation, the most intense phase began at 01:12 hrs. and continuing until 2:16 pm. The clouds present in the area does not allow the visibility of the volcano, but from the 1:18 pm shows crater glow and an exhalation of water vapor and gas accompanied by ash (see figure 1) . So do not rule out the possibility of ashfall in the eastern sector of the volcano (see Figure 2) . Approximately

at 01:44 you can see incandescent materials that reach a height of about 1 km (see Figure 3) .

The traffic light alert signal remains in Yellow Phase 3. This level implies:

1. Announcing the situation and measures taken to the public and the media. 2. Prepare personnel, equipment and evacuation shelters. 3. Implement specific measures in the most vulnerable. 4. Implement preventive measures against ash fall, lahars and against fragments in vulnerable regions. 5. Alert air navigation systems.6. Limit access to the volcano over a larger area.

Above image was taken on April 14 by SCT, which shows dome 36 growing inside the crater.   Image source:  CENAPRED, Mexico.

Global Drought

• 2012 Drought and Deluge Index Page

Recent Global Drought Links

• Extreme or Severe Drought Covers 3/4 of Portugal Posted on March 4, 2012
• Hundreds Evacuated Amid Spain Wildfires
• Hunger Plagues Indigenous Community in N Mexico Posted on January 21, 2012
• Mexico declares disaster in drought-stricken areas Posted on January 9, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought Declared in Southeast UK Posted on February 21, 2012
• Food production drops 40 percent in Mexico due to drought Posted on March 11, 2012

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background 

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar: Collapse has already Begun

Popocatépetl Volcano Erupts Explosively

‘El Popo’ forecast: Large-scale explosions, high probability of incendiary fragments and ash showers

Mexican authorities have raised the alert level for the Popocatepetl southeast of Mexico City following recent activity. The volcano’s eruption in 2000 forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from the three states that surround the volcano in central Mexico.

Popocatépetl Volcano (“smoking mountain” in Aztec) is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The massive stratovolcano stands 5,450m high and lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles)  southeast of  Mexico City (19.023°N, 98.622°W ) in the eastern segment of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Mexico’s Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has warned of large scale explosions, with high probability of  incendiary fragments and ash showers. Image source:  CENAPRED, Mexico.

A lava dome is growing in the volcano’s crater, CENAPRED said in a recent bulletin. The massive volcano also has been ejecting incandescent fragments and ash, and spewing steam and volcanic gasses.

The volcano is expected to experience “significant explosions with growing intensity, hurling incandescent rocks significant distances,” with a high probability of ash showers, the center said.  Adding that local residents should expect possible flows of lava and lahar down the volcano’s flanks.

The following is the latest bulletin issued by CENAPRED

Abr 18 07:00 (12:00 Abr 18 GMT)

At 06:35 h (local time), the monitoring system recorded the beginning of an exhalation sequence with tremor, that continues at the moment of this report. The first exhalation of this sequence had an explosive component. It generated the emission of incandescent fragments over the north and northeast flanks at distances of 500-800 m (see image 1) and a dense plume of steam, gases and ash (see image 2). The incandescent fragments fall over the snow and generated a small water and ash flow.

Likely, ash fall will occur over the villages in the eastern and southeastern sectors of the volcano.

During the 12 previous hours the monitoring system registered 6 low intensity exhalations, accompanied by steam, gas and small amount of ash. The most important occurred at 00:46 h y 04:59 h (see image 3), which increased the incandescence over the crater rim.

During the night the cloudy conditions doesn##t allow to observe the volcano. During the early morning the volcano could be seen with a continuous emission of steam and gas, that increased the amounts of ash and the density since 06:36 h.

The traffic light alert signal remains in Yellow Phase 3. This level implies:

1. Announcing the situation and measures taken to the public and the media. 2. Prepare personnel, equipment and evacuation shelters. 3. Implement specific measures in the most vulnerable. 4. Implement preventive measures against ash fall, lahars and against fragments in vulnerable regions. 5. Alert air navigation systems. 6. Limit access to the volcano over a larger area.

See also:

• Etna Erupts Explosively Posted on April 14, 2012

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar: Collapse has already Begun