WE TALK ABOUT
Volcano rumbles in Mexico
MILLIONS of people in Mexico have been told to get ready to leave their homes after the country’s largest active volcano, Popocatépetl, recently began erupting after lying dormant (see Word of the Week) for decades.
Schools were closed, planes were grounded and people were told to wear masks as the volcano spewed ash – consisting of fragments of rocks, minerals and volcanic glass – into the air.
Popocatépetl (pronounced pohpoh-kah-teh-petl) is located about 70km away from Mexico City, but strong winds have carried the ash to the capital city and surrounding areas, posing a threat to people who live in nearby towns.
The volcano is considered one of the most dangerous in the world because it’s so close to so many towns.
It’s also one of the most active in Mexico.
Popocatépetl came to life in 1994 and since then, it has regularly released plumes of smoke, ash and other harmful gases into the air.
