MEXICO CITY, January 2: Mexico's majestic Popocatepetl volcano boomed out a loud eruption, spewing out a massive gas cloud and setting off a series of tremors reaching up to 3.3 on the Richter scale, local media reported.The eruption could be heard in the provincial capital Puebla 32 km away, where ash rained down on the streets, television Azteca reported yesterday.
The network showed video of a giant cloud extending some seven km above the peak, which is 5,452 metres above sea level. Radio Red said the eruption might have set off a bush fire near the volcano.
A massive explosion of Popocatepetl would be a major disaster for the 500,000 people who live in its shadow, and could pose threat to the 18 million people living in Mexico city, just 64 km away.
The snow-capped, cone-shaped volcano started off in 1998 with a bang after making a lot of noise in 1997, when it erupted 31 times.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
