Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano erupts

Associated Press | February 14, 2003

[HAL9000]

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A volcano southeast of Mexico City erupted early Friday, spewing glowing fragments of rock as far as two miles away and sending up a three-mile-high smoke column.

The 5:34 a.m. eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano lasted four minutes and caused grass fires but no other damage.

No evacuations of nearby villages were necessary, said scientists at the National Center for Disaster Prevention.

The 17,886-foot high volcano, 40 miles southeast of Mexico City, has been active since December 1994.

[cdefreese]

It erupted, and after a few minutes, looked around, and decided it wasn't worth the effort and went away.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Our Mexicana flight was late leaving Mexico City for Ixtapa a few years back. To make up for it, the pilot announced he would bank the airplane to give everyone a closer look at the inside of this beast. The volcano was quiet at the time but the smell of sulfur stayed with us for the entire 45 minute flight.

[Willie Green]

I suppose a little belch is better than a big blast.
Helps relieve some of the pressure.
Of course, it could be just tuning up for a big one.