Mexican authorities were on alert Monday after the Popocateptl volcano spewed a 5-kilometre plume of ash. After the flare-up Sunday, the volcano, located 70 kilometres southeast of Mexico City, returned to normal levels of activity, the National Disaster Prevention Centre said on its website. It was emitting water and gas, forming a cloud 500 metres over the crater, the centre said. Popocateptl, with an altitude of 5,452 metres, became active again in 1994 after many years of being dormant.
