Mexico: Popocatépetl volcano spews ash – schools closed

Due to the increased activity of the volcano popocatepetl Many schools in central Mexico have canceled face-to-face teaching. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced Monday that more than 7,000 soldiers were ready to evacuate surrounding towns. The volcano has been spewing ash, steam and gas for days. In 40 cities and towns in the state of Puebla, there were no classes in schools on Monday, according to local government data. Governor Sergio Salomón Cespedes wrote on Twitter that lessons for the region’s more than one million students are almost in session.

Air travel has also been affected by the volcanic activity. State operator ASA announced Monday afternoon (local time) that the international airport in the city of Puebla will remain closed until Tuesday morning. The ash should be removed from the runway and the situation should be reassessed. There were numerous flight cancellations and delays at the Mexico City airport on Monday.

Smog above 1600 meters

Authorities had earlier raised the alert level. According to the National Civil Defense, the new alert level is one step away from the red alert level, in which people should be prepared to evacuate. Evacuation routes and designation of emergency shelters are to be reviewed on Monday. About 25 million people live within a radius of 100 kilometers.

At over 5400 meters high, Popocatépetl is one of the most active volcanoes. Mexico. It is 85 kilometers southeast of the capital, Mexico City. Over the past few days, it has been spewing ash, steam and gas repeatedly. Smoke billowed 1,600 meters above the crater of the volcano on Monday, according to the Civil Defense Department.

(DPA)See comments