Mexican Town Evacuated Amid Volcano Warning

The governor of the western state of Colima ordered the evacuation of a small town on the flanks of Mexico’s most active volcano Saturday as scientists warned that an eruption may be imminent.

“Conditions exist for an eruption due to an increase in the volcano’s internal seismic activity,” said a news release from the office of Gov. Fernando Moreno.

Moreno ordered the evacuation of Yerbabuena, a town of about 200 people near the peak of the 13,000-foot volcano. The governor also issued an order prohibiting anyone from going within four miles of the volcano, about 300 miles west of Mexico City.

Several towns, including Yerbabuena, were evacuated in February after hot rocks began rolling down the volcano’s slope.

Volcanologists consider the Colima volcano to be the most active of nine volcanoes across the middle of Mexico. It has erupted violently dozens of times in recent years.