Popocatéptl's increased activity has put the volcano in the local news. One expert said that his behavior now is similar to what occurred before his last eruption in 1994. So here's the latest information based on my translation of a CNN Mexico article that appeared today. Links are to stories that CNN reporter Elvia Cruz filed, and I translated, last year at this time.
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| Popocatéptl Venting Ash Viewed from Puebla (Photo: Elvia Cruz) |
CNN Mexico: Elvia Cruz
Santiago Xalizintla, Puebla - For José Cortés Agustín, listening to the roar of the volcano Popocatépetl is common. Observing the launch of incandescent material at night, "is part of the beautiful landscape" of his community, Santiago Xalitzintla, a town located less than twelve kilometers [7.5 miles] from the crater.
This Sunday as authorities prepared to evacuate residents near Don Goyo, as the volcano is also known, if it becomes necessary, the 75-year-old continued his normal activities.
"I would rather die here (in Xalitzintla) than leave. It frightens those from the city. The fear does not exist over there, he (Popocatépetl) would not hurt us. He gives us beautiful images so there is no reason to be frightened. No one can predict the day of his eruption (...) They say on the news that there is to be an alert, but his tremors and thunder are part of his business and also of those who live near him," he tells CNN México.
This weekend the Civil Protection "alert" went from Yellow-Phase 2 to Yellow-Phase 3, which means explosions of growing intensity with possibilities of pyroclastic flows--a mixture of gases and hot solids--of moderate range, according to the National Commission for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED).
In the predawn hours of Sunday morning, the government of the state of Puebla, in the center of Mexico, implemented the Popocatépetl Operation Plan, which means outfitting shelters, the deployment of at least 2,000 emergency crew to the communities closest to the volcano to be prepared in case they have to evacuate the residents.
In the predawn hours of Sunday morning, the government of the state of Puebla, in the center of Mexico, implemented the Popocatépetl Operation Plan, which means outfitting shelters, the deployment of at least 2,000 emergency crew to the communities closest to the volcano to be prepared in case they have to evacuate the residents.
The volcano is located on the border of the states of Puebla, Mexico and Morelos.
According to the official report, the three communities closest to the crater that would have to be evacuated are San Pedro Benito Juárez, Atlixco, San Nicolás de los Ranchos and Santago Xalitzintla, where more than 11,000 people live.
"We are prepared for everything"
Nestor Torres, who has spent twenty years teaching in the Benito Juárez Elementary School in the village of Santiago Xalitzintla, agrees with José: living on the slopes of Popocatépetl, "does not present a problem".
The 48-year old teacher believes that now the people of this town are "more prepared" in case they have to evacuate.
"The families know that when the bells ring, they have to gather on the plaza in order to be taken to shelters. What must be recognized is that there are stubborn people who would not accept leaving their homes."Nestor recalls the last time Popocatépetl erupted in December 1994.
"At that time, we were definitely frightened. My students weren't sure what to do, and neither was I. I just remember that the Army came and took us to a hostel. Everyone was scared. The people said that the end of the world had arrived. Fortunately, there were no losses to mourn. Now, we are all very used to Popo's noises", he told CNNMéxico.He adds that the tremors caused by Don Goyo, shake "very strongly" the windows of the classrooms where he teaches, but that does not interrupt classes.
"At school we are prepared for any contingency. In case of expulsion of lava, ash, stones, the children know how to evacuate and get to the hostel at the high part of Xalitzintla," Araceli Jiménez, teacher responsible for civil protection at Benito Juárez Elementary School.The high activity that Popocatépetl has sustained since last Tuesday should not be minimized either by the authorities or by the population, says volcanologist, Alejandro Rivera Domínguez.
Right now the volcano presents "a stage of interior pressure followed by forming a dome"; thus, he expects that the expulsion of ash, incandescent material and light stones would continued in the next few hours, or even weeks, says the specialist.
"There is a serious danger that small dense clouds of hot ash and might reach populated areas, so it is important to be vigilant," he says.The Tradition of Don Goyo
According to the tiempero, Antonio Analco, Popocatépetl has told him that he will not erupt. The tiempero is the person chosen ... to talk with the volcano. He had his last "encounter" with Don Goyo on May 3, when the volcano told him that there will not be major danger.
"He also told me that so much movement bothers him. He doesn't like it that you are afraid. So much commotion by the government and the journalists make him nervous," he says.The 68-year old man has the belief that Don Goyo will inform him through "a dream" at what point "he will seriously wake up" but "not right now that he only throws ash and lava."
In order to ask the volcano "not to misbehave", Analco says that in the first three days of May, a group of people from Xalitzintla repeated the ritual they did a year ago: they brought a charro suit, band music, mole with turkey meat, bread, fruit, bottles of tequila and candles.
"It is true that we are used to living with him, and every year we ask him that our life together may continue to be healthy," says the tiempero. Spanish original
Jenny's Postscript
Still Curious?
Here are several Jenny's posts that discuss the impact of volcanoes and other natural phenomena on the culture of Mexico:
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