Sunrise Illuminates Ash and Smoke Following Explosion at Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano

Residents of Amecameca, Mexico, woke up to a lovely bright orange sunrise on January 9, following an eruption of the Popocatepetl Volcano.

Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination issued a yellow alert after there were reports of exhalations, tremors, and explosions around 6.30 in the morning.

In a video local Juan Carlos Zárate posted to Facebook, the sunrise casts light on the smoke and ash cloud from the explosion as it moves across the early morning sky.

Zárate, who can see the volcano from his front door, told Storyful, “When we wake up, we usually look toward the volcano. This morning we were struck by the orange tone.”

Media reports said that wind carried a smoke column from the eruption to the northeast, and officials are still urging residents not to approach the volcano. Credit: Juan Carlos Zárate via Storyful