Time-lapse video shows Mexico's Popocatépetl belch smoke, ash as 22 million await volcano's next move
Several towns near the volcano closed schools because of the ash, and Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport halted operations for more than five hours on Saturday due to the smoke and ash in the area. Several fights were delayed and canceled.
Watch: Timelapse video shows smoke, ash spewing from Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano
Popocatépetl, one of Mexico's most active volcanoes, recently erupted and its fiery activity has intensified. This timelapse video shows ash and smoke spewing from the volcano.
MEXICO CITY – One of the most active volcanoes in Mexico erupted nearly two weeks ago, sending clouds of smoke and ash thousands of feet into the air, and a new time-lapse video shows both the beauty and terror of the volcano coming to life.
WATCH: MEXICO'S POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO ERUPTS TWICE, SPEWS LAVA INTO THE SKY
Watch: Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano erupts twice, spews lava into the sky
Video of Popocatépetl, one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, shows the volcano erupting twice early Wednesday morning. (Courtesy: Nicola Rustichelli via Storyful)
The mesmerizing video shows the majestic 17,800-foot Popocatépetl volcano spewing lava into the night sky as stars move across the frame.
At one point in the time-lapse video, a thick cloud of smoke and ash explodes from within the volcano.
Map showing the location of Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Popocatépetl is located about 45 miles southeast of Mexico City and is the second-tallest volcano in North America, according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.
Nearly 9 million people live in Mexico City, and 22 million in total live in the areas surrounding the volcano, which has been erupting since 2005, according to NASA.
Last week, several towns near the volcano closed schools because of the ash, and Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport halted operations for more than five hours on Saturday due to the smoke and ash in the area. Several fights were delayed and canceled.
Popocatépetl volcano before the eruption.
(Nicola Rustichelli via Storyful / FOX Weather)
Mexico's National Civil and Protection Service had been warning residents of the continuous emissions of poisonous volcanic gas and ash and also urged people to refrain from ascending the volcano's crater and to move away from the bottom of ravines in case of mud and debris flows.