Mexico City's Volcano: Recent Activity Highlights Cities' Vulnerabilities

Popocatepetl, an active volcano near Mexico City, has been increasingly active during the past week after briefly calming down from an active period in May. The volcano's activity illustrates the vulnerability of Mexico City and the surrounding populations. The proximity to unpredictable volcanoes creates the possibility that population centers will be in the path of deadly mudslides and that volcanic ash could create economic disruptions. While predicting the time and scale of a volcanic eruption is extremely difficult, periods of increased activity illustrate the potential for destruction and disruption should a large eruption ever happen.