Popocatepetl volcano's spectacular show, a cloud of ash and steam eight km. high

PUEBLA, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano put on a spectacular show Saturday, spewing out a huge, billowing cloud of ash and steam eight kilometers (five miles) high, but creating little danger, officials said.
 
"Judging by the altitude, it is the biggest smoke cloud we've seen in the past seven years," Popocatepetl Operation Plan director Ramon Pena told AFP.
 
The expert observer, however, said the volcano's activity 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Mexico City did not change the ongoing yellow alert -- signalling no risk -- for nearby populations.
 
The column of smoke, ash and steam rising from Popocatepetl's crater was expected to fall within the next few hours over several Puebla state towns and villages, Pena said.
 
The 5,452-meter (17,900-foot) Popocatepetl awoke from from a dormant state in 1994 and since then has been cordoned off by the Mexican army who keep civilians at a prudent 12-kilometer (7.5 mile) distance.

CENAPRED reported that
emissions of steam-and-gas from Popocatépetl were visible during 30
December-1 January. On 31 December, a 13-minute-long high-frequency
tremor event was followed by an emission of a plume with low ash
content. The plume rose to an altitude of 7.4 km (24,300 ft) a.s.l. and
drifted E and SE.

Sources: Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED) ,
Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) - “Reports provided
courtesy of the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program and the US
Geological Survey’s Volcano Hazards Program.”

Popocatepetl Volcano - John Seach
Mexico
 
19.023 N, 98.622 W
summit elevation 5426 m
stratovolcano
 
Popocatepetl is currently the highest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere.
On 29th Janaury 2001 pyroclastic flows travelled 8 km from Popocatepetl Volcano causing glacial melting.
On 30 april 1996 five climbers were killed at the crater rim by an explosion of Popocatepetl Volcano.
An eruption occurred on 5th January 2008 with ash to 24,000 ft atlitude.