MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (April 19, 2012) – Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries are reported safe following an eruption by the Popocatepetl volcano located southeast of the city, Covenant News Service has learned.
“The eruption forced closure of the airport, but all of our staff are fine,” according to a spokesperson for the Department of World Mission.
The eruption sent plumes of ash into the air, though most of the fallout is expected to occur on the eastern slope of the mountain some distance from the Mexican capital. Officials are concerned that the 15 eruptions over the past 24 hours could be a sign of more serious problems to come.
The Civil defense says the volcano alert level remains high, but no evacuations are planned at present, according to a report from the Latino arm of Fox News. “Authorities this week raised the alert level due to increasing activity at the 17,886-foot peak,” Fox News reported. “Its most violent eruption in 1,200 years occurred on December 18, 2000.”
Covenant News Service will provide updates as more information becomes available.
