Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Popocatepetl Volcano that towers over the Mexico City region shot rocks and a plume of ash and smoke more than 5 miles high yesterday, alarming people who had been evacuated from nearby villages a month before.
The Popocatepetl Volcano that towers over the Mexico City region shot rocks and a plume of ash and smoke more than 5 miles high yesterday, alarming people who had been evacuated from nearby villages a month before.
Officials in Puebla state told the Radio Red network that the mushroom-shaped plume was one of the largest since the 17,886-foot (5,450-metre) volcano began a cycle of eruptions in 1994 after decades of relative dormancy.
The government's National Center for the Prevention of Disasters, which monitors the volcano, said a 2.8-magnitude earthquake shook the volcano Monday afternoon. A small burst of steam followed 17 minutes later, and an hour after that, the volcano shot out a plume of ash and steam that reached 5 miles high.
The eruption sent rocks flying from the crater and caused a flow of ash three miles down the volcano's canyons. Ash was also falling on communities north and south of the crater.
There were no plans to evacuate villages at the volcano's base, and authorities called residents to remain calm.
Though the volcano is only 40 miles south-east of Mexico City, experts say it poses little danger beyond a possible sprinkling of ash on North America's largest city.
On December 18, the volcano staged its most violent eruption in 1,200 years, spewing a fiery plume and convincing thousands who live at its base to flee to shelters set up in safe areas. The villagers were allowed to return on December 27.
Although the volcano has quieted since then, officials have warned that occasional eruptions are possible as energy builds inside the volcano's crater.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments