OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Mexico - Volcano
Popocatepetl - increasing volcanic activity
19 December 2000



(source: www.bbc.co.uk)

Background

1.  The volcano Popocatepetl (Aztec word for smoking mountain), is 5,426 m
high, and is situated 70 km southeast of Mexico City. It is North
America's second highest volcano, the highest being Pico de Orizaba,
(5,700 m) between Puebla and Veracruz.

2.  The Popocatepetl volcanic activity started again in 1993, after
decades of non-activity.  In October 1994, the seismic activity increased
significantly and, on 21 December 1994, for the first time in 75 years,
the volcano spewed volcanic ash. Partial evacuation was then carried out.

3.  Since 1996, small lava domes have incrementally been constructed
within the summit crater and destroyed by explosive eruptions.
Intermittent small-to-moderate gas-and-ash eruptions have continued,
occasionally producing ash fall in neighboring towns and villages. The
authorities have several times issued yellow alerts (three alert stages:
green, yellow, and red).


Summary of most recent activities

4.  The alert level at Popocatepetl is now at Yellow Phase III. The danger
zone around the volcano is up to 10 km.

5.  On 18 December 2000, pieces of rock spewed out of the volcano were
found up to 10 km away, and authorities are considering extending the
danger zone from 10 to 15 km. The overall target population to be
evacuated is some 41,000 people from 22 communities in the states of
Mexico, Puebla and Morelos. So far 95 per cent of population in the
following locations have been evacuated:  San Pedro Benito Juarez,
Guadalupe, Huexohuapan, Ocatepec, San Mateo Ozolco, San Nicolas de Los
Ranchos, San Pedro Yancuitlalpan, San Pedro Atlixco, San Baltasar
Atlimeyaya, Metepec, San Miguel Ayala, San Juan Ocotepec, San Jeronimo
Coyula, Magdalena Yancuitlalpan, Tochimilco y San Juan Tejupa.

6.  The President of Mexico has advised the population to stay calm while
remaining alert. The armed forces, the police, firefighters and Red Cross
volunteers are assisting the population in the evacuation operations. No
official reports on dead or injured people have been issued so far.


Request for international assistance

7.  The Government has not requested OCHA to launch an appeal for
international assistance.

8.  OCHA is monitoring the situation in close cooperation with the UN
Resident Coordinator's Office in Mexico City.

9.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:  Mr. Erik Haegglund / Mr. Carlos Pereira / Ms. Masayo Kondo
direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97

Press contact:
(in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53


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: 01/04/01 EST