Hundreds evacuate as Mexico’s‘Volcano of Fire’ erupts

Handout picture released by Jalisco's Civil Protection shows an aerial view od the Fire Volcano spewing ash on July 11, 2015, near San Marcos community, Jalisco State, Mexico. Western Mexico's Volcano of Fire spewed a four-kilometre column (2.5 miles) of ash and molten rock late Friday, prompting authorities to evacuate 19 people from a small village. -AFP

Ash from the Colima Volcano, as it is also known, rained down on nearby communities while lava flowed down its flanks, prompting authorities to seal off a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) area around the crater.

“The communities in this 12-kilometer radius are very small and don’t exceed 800 inhabitants. They have all been evacuated,” said Luis Felipe Puente, national civil protection coordinator.