Mexico volcano eruption disrupts air travel
Mexico volcano eruption caused flights in and out of Mexico City's airport to be cancelled Friday. The Mexico volcano eruption spewed a mile-high plume of ash that drifted over large parts of Mexico City, making it dangerous for air travel.
Mexico volcano eruption: Smoke rises from the Popocatepetl as it spews incandescent volcanic material on the outskirts of Puebla Thursday.
Imelda Medina/Reuters
Mexico City
U.S. airlines canceled more flights in and out of聽Mexico聽City's airport on Friday as a precautionary measure as the nearby Popocatepetl聽volcano聽continued to emit vapor and ash.
Alaska Airlines, United, Delta and AirTran canceled about a dozen flights, fewer than the number on Thursday, said Jorge Gomez, spokesman for聽Mexico聽City International Airport.
He noted that the airlines made the decision, and said normal operations continued at the airport without restrictions. No ash has fallen at the airport, Gomez said, though dust particles have been detected from thevolcano聽that is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) away.
At least six U.S. airlines canceled more than 40 flights on Thursday as the聽volcano聽spewed a mile-high (1.5 kilometer-high) plume of ash that drifted over large parts of聽Mexico聽City. The聽volcano聽also spewed a hot shower of glowing rock around its crater.
Mexico's聽National Center for Disaster Prevention reported that there had been 99 tremors and exhalations of medium and high frequency from the聽volcano聽on Friday afternoon.
Activity has increased this week from the聽volcano聽that towers more than 15,000 feet (5,450 meters) high in central聽Mexico聽where the states of聽Mexico, Puebla and Morelos meet.
Ash has fallen on towns at the聽volcano's聽base and as far away as some neighborhoods in聽Mexico聽City.
The Environment Ministry called on residents to take preventive measures Friday against the falling ash, including wearing dust masks, covering water supplies and staying indoors as needed.