Popocatepetl shoots ash cloud toward Mexico City, sparks volcanic alert Mexico's huge volcano Popocatepetl erupted a column of gas and ash that may send an ash cloud to Mexico City. Popocatepetl view from Amecameca, Mexico. The volcano shot a plume of ash and gas into the air, putting Mexico City on alert for an ash cloud. A volcanic alert has been issued after the Popocatepetl volcano erupted an enormous cloud of gas and ash. The blast could create an ash cloud bound for Mexico City, which is about 40 miles south of the volcano. The volcano has been restive since last year. The blast was captured on film stretching high into the sky and dumping bits of rock into neighboring areas. If Popocatepetl continues to erupt, the area will likely be evacuated. Evacuations were planned in mid-May during another active period, but were never enacted. The volcano is under constant monitoring for activity using cameras, satellites and sensors to track changes in temperature and ground movement. The volcano is the second-highest volcano in Mexico, and it had its last major eruption in 1947. It was dormant from the 1950s until 1994, when it began to erupt intermittently. A large eruption in December 2000 caused damage, but evacuations and monitoring kept residents from getting hurt.