MEXICO CITY
(AP)--A volcano outside Mexico City spewed ash on parts of the
capital and nearby towns, causing some airlines to cancel flights
and rural residents to cover their mouths with masks, local media
reported.
The National
Center for Disasters Prevention said Thursday's increased volcanic
activity posed no threat to area residents. There were no immediate
plans for any evacuations.
National TV
networks showed the fiery crater of the Popocatepetl Volcano billowing
smoke in the pre-dawn hours Thursday. Less than a millimeter of
ash fell over a 50-mile radius, local media said.
An official
from the Mexico City international airport told TV Azteca network
that United Airlines and other international carriers had canceled
flights after a light ash fell in the area.
But most airlines
continued flying into the airport.
Meanwhile,
several residents in villages surrounding the volcano walked the
streets with medical masks over their mouths to avoid inhaling
the ash.
The 17,886-foot
volcano is located 40 miles southeast of Mexico City. Popocatepetl
has been spewing vapor, ash and rock intermittently since December
1994 after lying largely dormant since 1927.
But the volcano
has been erupting continually over the past week. It erupted 200
times on Tuesday, a record number for a single day. Thursday
was the first day ash was reported to have fallen in populated
areas.
Luis Perez
Rodriguez, who lives in the village of Tetela del Volcan near
the base of the volcano, said the eruptions are keeping residents
on edge.
``We don't
know if we should wait for the news to see if we should leave
or if we should just go,'' she said.
Authorities
warned residents to stay at least six miles away. When the volcano
is more stable, the recommended distance is 4.35 miles.
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