Hundreds evacuate as Mexico's 'Volcano of Fire' erupts | Inquirer News

Hundreds evacuate as Mexico’s ‘Volcano of Fire’ erupts

/ 06:49 PM July 12, 2015

Clouds of ash fill the sky after an eruption by the Colima volcano, known as the Volcano of Fire, near the town of Comala, Mexico, Friday, July 10, 2015. The volcano spewed ash more than 4 miles (7 kilometers) into the air and released some quantity of lava. People were advised to recognize a 3-mile (5-kilometer) perimeter around the peak. (AP Photo/Sergio Tapiro Velasco)

Clouds of ash fill the sky after an eruption by the Colima volcano, known as the Volcano of Fire, near the town of Comala, Mexico, Friday, July 10, 2015. The volcano spewed ash more than 4 miles (7 kilometers) into the air and released some quantity of lava. People were advised to recognize a 3-mile (5-kilometer) perimeter around the peak. AP

COLIMA — Hundreds of people were evacuated from villages around Mexico’s “Volcano of Fire” and an airport closed on Saturday amid fears an eruption could escalate to become the biggest in a century.

Ash from the Colima Volcano, as it is also known, rained down on nearby communities while lava flowed down its flanks, prompting authorities to seal off a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) area around the crater.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The communities in this 12-kilometer radius are very small and don’t exceed 800 inhabitants. They have all been evacuated,” said Luis Felipe Puente, national civil protection coordinator.

FEATURED STORIES

Colima’s airport was closed to private and commercial flights “due to falling ash in the area,” said Governor Mario Anguiano Moreno.

Volcanic activity began to intensify late Thursday, with a four-kilometer column of ash late Friday.

Article continues after this advertisement

One village at the foot of the mountain, Yerbabuena, was smothered in up to five centimeters (nearly two inches) of ash, authorities said, and rain also tumbled down, adding to the misery.

Article continues after this advertisement

Ash traveled as far as the city of Colima, where residents wore masks and a thin layer of talc-like material covered streets and cars.

Article continues after this advertisement

The interior ministry said the volcanic activity was “atypical, presenting conditions similar to those of 1913,” when a major eruption took place and covered the region in ash.

The ministry said three scenarios are possible: A gradual waning of activity in coming weeks, a 1913-like explosion or a collapse of the volcano’s dome.

Article continues after this advertisement

But Puente said there was a “drop in volcanic activity” in the afternoon compared to earlier in the day, and that authorities were monitoring the volcano “minute by minute.”

RELATED STORY

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

More travel chaos as volcano closes Bali airport again

TAGS: Eruption, Mexico, world news

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.