CIDI 
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Mexico - Volcano
Popocatepetl - increasing volcanic activity
20 December 2000




(source: www.bbc.co.uk)

Summary of most recent activities

1.  On 19 December 2000, the volcano Popocatepetl spouted showers of
incandescent rock without any flow of lava. The authorities are
considering extending the danger zone from 15 to 24 km around the volcano.
There is concern about the glacier beside the volcano that could break
apart and cause a landslide.

2.  So far, almost all the population within a range of 10 to 12 km from
the volcano has been evacuated. The total number of evacuees amounts to
some 35,000, of whom 25,000 have found refuge in emergency shelters (all
in all 56 shelters have been opened), where they are provided with basic
emergency supplies. The overall target population to be evacuated has been
increased to some 50,000 people from 40 communities in the states of
Mexico, Puebla and Morelos.

3.  The President of Mexico has visited shelters and advised the
population that the authorities stay in a stage of alert. He further
assured them that there are enough food items, medicines, blankets and
drinking water in stock to cover emergency needs. The Armed Forces have so
far deployed 2,200 men with another 4,500 kept on stand-by in the Mexico
Districto Federal.


Request for international assistance

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

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

6.  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