Mexico’s Popocatepetl Volcano won’t calm down

Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano had a moderate explosion Monday, spewing hot rocks up to 1ј miles away and a column of ash that shot 2Ѕ miles high. The 40-second explosion was provoked by the collapse of a lava dome that had built up in the volcano's crater in recent weeks, according to an announcement from the National Centre for Prevention of Disasters cited by AP. The centre, which had predicted the explosion, said more activity was possible in the next few days from the 17,886-foot volcano, located about 40 miles south of Mexico City. On Dec. 18, the volcano staged its most violent eruption in 1,200 years, spewing red-hot rock and convincing thousands who live at its base to flee to shelters set up in safe areas. The villagers were allowed to return on Dec. 27. Residents are still barred from coming within seven miles of the crater.