Miguel Angel Atenco tries to ignore the vibrations, falling ash, and fiery night-time shows from the volcano towering over his Mexican town and sells tacos as usual. But the rumbles of the second-highest peak in the country, which has a name that means “smoking mountain” in the indigenous Nahuatl language, have been getting louder and more frequent recently. “We keep on working, just waiting to see what the volcano does,” Atenco told AFP in his restaurant in the ash-covered community of San Nicolas de los Ranchos.
The volcano, which straddles the border between the states of Mexico and Puebla, is one of the most active in the country, with 15 significant eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. It is also one of the nation’s highest, reaching 5,426 meters (17,802 feet) southeast of Mexico City. Its symmetrical cone is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on its northwest, a remnant of an older volcano.
Its erratic behavior has led to warnings of potential danger for the 25 million people who live within a 100-kilometer radius (about 60 miles) of the crater and has prompted residents to clear out their homes in case the activity picks up again and threatens to blow a hole in the top of the mountain. In addition, experts constantly monitor seismic activity, the composition of lava and gasses spewed out, and other signs to predict when an enormous eruption is imminent.
During this latest phase of rumblings, the volcano spewed over a quarter of a million tons of ash into the air, disrupting flights and clogging drains. At least five people have been reported injured in the past few days. The eruption has also forced authorities to close the main airport in the capital and shut down train services to Puebla as workers cleared ash from runways.
Some people living near the volcano left their homes over the weekend as a precaution, but others refuse to be scared. The volcano sits between the country’s most populous cities: Mexico City (19 million) and Puebla, whose population is around 2.6 million.
The best way to get to Popocatepetl is via international flights into Mexico City or Puebla. From there, take a taxi to the local bus station, which is called TAPO. Make sure only to use authorized taxis, as those lining up outside of the airport will often quote gringos 5 to 6 times more than official rates. From TAPO, buses run all day in every direction. Alternatively, numerous tour companies offer excursions and day trips to Popocatepetl. You can also book experiences in advance on Travelocity.
