Volcano in Mexico erupts 14 times during a night

According to official reports, Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico erupted 14 times during a single night.

The volcano is located about 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. According to the National Disaster Agency of Mexico, it erupted 14 times on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, night. 

Popocatépetl volcano is the North's America 2^nd highest volcano with its top reaching an altitude of 5,426 meters. Pico de Orizaba, also located in Mexico is the highest volcano in North America with an elevation of 5,636 meters. Popocatépetl contains a 250-450 meter crater.

Popocatépetl was named by Aztecs meaning smoking mountain. During that historic period, large eruptions caused mud flows that destroyed Aztec communities and large buildings such as pyramids. 

In the past century, the volcano had been dormant for about 50 years before erupting again on December 21, 1994 after a series of seismic shocks. 75,000 people were evacuated from nearby villages during the following days. Since then, Popocatépetl has been constantly active. 

According to scientists, over the past 600 years of activity, the volcano has produced moderate explosions with volcanic ash spreading for just a few kilometers in the air above its crater.

The spectacular number of explosions on Wednesday night was followed by one and three more on Thursday and Friday, respectively, according to Mexico's Center for Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED).

Gas and ash were produced due to the continuous explosions. Experts from CENAPRED warned people to avoid approaching the volcano as landslides may be triggered in case of intense precipitation. "People should not go near the volcano, especially near the crater, due to the hazard caused by ballistic fragments and in case of heavy rains leave the bottoms of ravines because of the danger of landslides and debris flows," CENAPRED, stated.

Currently, more than 20 million people live near the volcano so officials are alerted for any hazardous volcanic activity.