Mexico City Airport suspends operations due to activity of the Popocatepetl volcano
Time to Read: 2 minute
The authorities maintain the current alert level at “Yellow Phase 2”, which includes falling ash and incandescent material near the crater, although they did not order the evacuation of the surrounding towns
Mexico City's international airport temporarily suspended operations this Saturday after ash fall was recorded due to activity from the Popocatépetl volcano. Airport authorities said in a statement posted on Facebook that the terminal “closed operations as of 04:25 on Saturday”. “We are carrying out the review and cleaning of runways and taxiways,” he added.
Two and a half hours later, at seven in the morning, the airport indicated that the closure of operations would be extended for another two hours, according to local press reports. “We resumed takeoff and landing operations from 10:00 (17:00 CET)”, the airport authorities said when announcing that the volcanic ash from the runways had already been removed. In total, they were closed for almost six hours. The volcano, located in central Mexico, on the borders of the State of Mexico, Morelos and Puebla, emitted fumaroles and incandescent content during the night of Friday and early Saturday morning, reported Civil Protection of the Mexican government.
#MonitorPopocatepetl 🌋 | During the early morning hours, the volcano presented an extensive period of volcanic activity, tremors and emission of incandescent material.
— PC Municipal Puebla (@PCPueblaCapital) May 20, 2023
🚦 Volcanic traffic light: Yellow, Phase 2.
🌋 Chance of ashfall: Low.
However, the authorities maintained the current alert level at “Yellow Phase 2”, which contemplates the fall of ash and incandescent material near the crater although it does not order an evacuation of the surrounding populations. The Popocatépetl volcano is monitored at all times, 365 days a year due to the risk that its activity represents for the population living in surrounding areas.
The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), located in Zumpango, near Mexico City, also announced the temporary closure of operations, although it has not yet announced its resumption. The government of the State of Puebla suspended school classes since last Thursday due to the activity of the volcano.