Popocatépetl Logs 52 Exhalations as Ash Falls in Edomex Towns
Cenapred kept Popocatépetl at Yellow Phase 2 after 52 exhalations in 24 hours, with ash in five State of Mexico towns. Ash precautions inside.
Popocatépetl recorded 52 low-intensity exhalations in 24 hours and stays at Yellow Phase 2 on Mexico’s volcanic alert traffic light, according to a report from the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) dated Wednesday, Nov. 11. Light ash fell on five municipalities in the State of Mexico (Edomex).
The National Communications Center (Cenacom) named the municipalities as Amecameca, Atlautla, Ayapango, Ozumba and Tlalmanalco. TV Azteca also reported that civil protection authorities warned of possible ash fall in Puebla, Edomex, Tlaxcala and Morelos on Nov. 11.
What Cenapred recorded
The report was prepared together with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). It lists:
- 52 exhalations of low intensity, with water vapor, other volcanic gases and at times small amounts of ash.
- 4.11 hours of high-frequency tremor, a continuous ground vibration, and 19 minutes of harmonic tremor, both of very low amplitude.
- A continuous emission of vapor and gas moving east-northeast in the early hours of the day.
Reports differ on how intense the activity is
TV Azteca described intense activity for a second day in a row. Cenapred characterizes the activity as constant but made up of low-intensity exhalations. A Cenapred post dated Nov. 9 counted 111 exhalations and 95 minutes of tremor over the previous 24 hours, more than the 52 exhalations in the Nov. 11 report.
TV Azteca’s text also refers to both four and six states at risk of ash fall, though it names four.
What Yellow Phase 2 means
According to TV Azteca, Yellow Phase 2 means the volcano shows increased activity but an immediate evacuation is not needed. Cenapred said this phase brings minor to moderate explosions, tremor of varying amplitude, light to moderate ash showers in nearby towns and glowing fragments thrown within a 12-kilometer exclusion radius.
What this means for residents
Federal and state authorities repeated their call to stay away from the crater, respect the exclusion radius and follow only official notices from Protección Civil (civil protection) and Cenapred.
For ash fall, TV Azteca listed these precautions:
- Cover the nose and mouth with a cloth or mask outdoors, and wear glasses instead of contact lenses.
- Cover water tanks and cisterns so they do not get contaminated.
- Keep pets indoors with their food and water.
- Close doors and windows, and place damp cloths in the gaps if needed.
- Sweep ash dry, put it in plastic bags and throw it out with non-recyclable waste. Wet ash hardens and can clog pipes and drains.
Mexico City’s risk-management and civil protection secretariat (SGIRPC) has issued similar guidance for possible ash fall in the south and east of the capital, adding that people should avoid outdoor activities and cover storm drains.
Sources: Tribuna Noticias, TV Azteca
