Popocatépetl: “Let’s see how the volcano reacts”: daily life in the shadow of the colossus

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Miguel Ángel Atenco tries to continue his normal life selling tacos, although now he has to clean and sweep the ash from the volcano popocatepetlin the midst of fear of a violent explosion of the colossus of central Mexico.

Since last Friday, the “Popo”, as it is colloquially known, has increased its activity with moderate explosions and the emission of incandescent material, water vapor, gases and ash.

“Well, we continue with our work more than anything, just waiting to see how the volcano reacts,” says Miguel Ángel in his restaurant in the community of San Nicolás de los Ranchos, in the tourist state of Puebla.

“You have to be cleaning, we have to work and everything is dirty,” he adds resigned, after again sweeping the ash that covers the sidewalk in front of the business.

Cities like Puebla or Cholula are seen at times wrapped in a gray cloud; the broom sellers make a killing.

In recent days there have also been tremors, seismic signals associated with the movement of fluids inside, and part of a glossary with which the inhabitants must familiarize themselves each time the volcano manifests itself again.

The changes in the activity of “Don Goyo” caused dozens of flights to be canceled over the weekend in Mexico City and the authorities raised the alert level to “yellow phase 3” on Sunday.

This is the highly dangerous level prior to the red, which would imply that, eventually, Miguel Ángel and thousands of residents who live near the volcano are evacuated.

Like this taco maker, hundreds of residents and soldiers deployed in the area continually sweep the town with a mixture of nervousness and uncertainty.

Capricious activity of Popocatépetl

Although the explosions and fire from the deep red crater send chills down the spine of the locals, the current phase of the volcano is no different from those it has had in different periods since 1994, when it reactivated after nearly seven decades of quiescence, he explains. Juan Manuel Espíndola, researcher at the Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

“This process is not very different from the previous ones, but of course, It is to be expected that it could lead to a more dangerous direction”, However, the specialist warns, remembering that in 1997, 1998 and 2001 there were similar episodes.

In fact, between June and July 1997, the inhabitants of Mexico City had to deal with thick layers of ash, which causes respiratory infections and often clogs drains.

Experts are constantly examining the seismicity around the “Popo”, along with the composition of the materials it spews and the gases it emits in order to anticipate a more dangerous situation.

“It is very likely that the activity, as on other occasions, will decrease with the days,” but also that it increases and forces the authorities to take other measures, Espíndola said.

One of those provisions would be to evacuate the population, which has not happened so far. “Volcanoes have a somewhat capricious activity”underline.

Trying to convey calm, the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obradorstated early this Wednesday that apparently “‘Don Goyo’ is calming down, although it still emits ash.”

“Leave well closed”

The authorities insist on asking people that does not approach the exclusion radius of 12 kilometers around Popocatépetl, and also the use of face masks, that some believed had left with the pandemic.

They also call on residents to keep abreast of official information in case of evacuation.

Raymundo Mena, a volunteer from the local church, tries to continue with his routine and remembers the pastor’s recommendation: “If you see that it is harder, get out and leave it closed.”

Mena relates that many residents left during the weekend. “Well, what did they expect! On Saturday and Sunday, by God, even the sheets trembled!” He says, referring to the roofs of the houses.

However, with a lifetime in San Nicolás de los Ranchos, he has reserves of calm.

“We are not going to be scared,” he says with a calm voice in the atrium of the temple. “Many people say that they already saw it (the volcano), that they already know it. Let’s see, go see if you really know the volcano,” she says, criticizing the skeptics.

· DO NOT MISS IT: How did Popocatépetl wake up this Thursday, May 25?

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