Flights cancelled as Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano erupts

The Popocatepetl volcano spews smoke and ash (Marco Ugarte/AP)

The Popocatepetl volcano just 50 miles from Mexico’s capital has erupted 13 times in the past day, and the country’s National Disaster Prevention Centre urged people not to climb it because of the debris shooting out of the crater.

Volcanic ash from the Popocatepetl disrupted flights out of Mexico City’s largest airport on Tuesday and caused another airport even closer to the volcano to temporarily suspend activity.