Colima Volcano erupts in Mexico, 70 evacuated

MEXICO CITY – Ash and cinders spewed Saturday from the Colima Volcano in western Mexico, prompting authorities to close the airport in the state capital of Colima and order the evacuation of a half dozen hamlets on the flanks of the peak.

At least 70 people were staying at a shelter by the late afternoon.

The volcano began erupting on Thursday and has become increasingly active, leading officials to issue orders to relocate people living nearby.

Civil protection officials described the volcano’s movements as “atypical,” a kind of activity not seen since it underwent a strong eruption in 1913.

The Colima Volcano, which sits near the border of the western states of Colima and Jalisco, is also known as the Volcano of Fire.

The officials said Saturday that residents of Yerbabuena, Colima, the first hamlet evacuated, were taken to a temporary shelter. The Jalisco state civil defense office said in its Twitter account that residents of five communities there would be evacuated.

The Interior Department reported that 2 inches of ash had fallen on Yerbabuena.