Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano Spews Ash Near Capital...05/24/00

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) - Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano spewed ash over about nine nearby villages and sent a dense column of smoke more than three miles (5 km) into the air on Tuesday, and authorities said it could shoot out more in the coming hours.

The National Centre for the Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED) said in a statement that the volcano, about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of Mexico City, had sent up a "moderately significant exhalation."

The centre said ash could rain down on the eastern part of Mexico City, an urban area that is home to as many as 20 million people, and warned citizens to avoid outdoor activities.

The volcano remained on yellow alert, which means it could erupt in weeks or months but probably no sooner. The centre said emergency measures were not necessary but recommended staying at least 4.3 miles (7 km) beyond the volcano area.

The mountain's last blast of a similar size was in March 1996 and rained ash on parts of the capital. Popocatepetl's name means "smoking mountain" in the indigenous Nahuatl language.