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Mexico

Mexico - Popocatépetl increasing volcanic activity OCHA Situation Report No. 2


Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0231
OCHA Situation Report No.2
Mexico
Popocatépetl - increasing volcanic activity
20 December 2000


(source: www.bbc.co.uk)


Summary of most recent activities

1. On 19 December 2000, the volcano Popocatépetl spouted showers of incandescent rock without any flow of lava. The authorities are considering extending the danger zone from 15 to 24 km around the volcano. There is concern about the glacier beside the volcano that could break apart and cause a landslide.

2. So far, almost all the population within a range of 10 to 12 km from the volcano has been evacuated. The total number of evacuees amounts to some 35,000, of whom 25,000 have found refuge in emergency shelters (all in all 56 shelters have been opened), where they are provided with basic emergency supplies. The overall target population to be evacuated has been increased to some 50,000 people from 40 communities in the states of Mexico, Puebla and Morelos.

3. The President of Mexico has visited shelters and advised the population that the authorities stay in a stage of alert. He further assured them that there are enough food items, medicines, blankets and drinking water in stock to cover emergency needs. The Armed Forces have so far deployed 2,200 men with another 4,500 kept on stand-by in the Mexico Districto Federal.

Request for international assistance

4. The Government has not requested OCHA to launch an appeal for international assistance.

5. OCHA is monitoring the situation in close cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Mexico City.

6. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Contacts

Telephone: +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-9170023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-9172010

Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund/Mr. Carlos Pereira/Ms. Masayo Kondo, direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97

Press contact: Mr. D. Kiniger-Passigli, direct tel. +41-22-917 26 53

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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