Climbers Found Dead On Mexican Volcano

Five Mexican climbers were found dead Thursday on the flanks of ash-belching Popocatepetl volcano, but there was no word yet on what caused the tragedy, Mexico’s official news agency said.

Rescue teams discovered the bodies high on the 17,991-foot mountain in an area off limits since Popocatepetl began shooting ash in early March, Notimex reported.

The volcano is 45 miles southeast of Mexico City.

Notimex said the climbers, who carried a cellular phone, last made contact with authorities on Tuesday, a day when an unusually heavy burst of ash was reported from the summit.