Mexico’s Colima volcano spews ash over nearby towns

MEXICO CITY – The Colima volcano in western Mexico has erupted, sending a column of ash about 5 kilometres into the air.

Mexico’s federal civil defence office said Friday that ash has fallen on towns as far as 25 kilometres from the peak, which is also known as the Volcano of Fire. Glowing hot rock tumbled down the volcano’s flanks over 2 kilometres from the crater.

The office says the eruption is much lower in intensity than ones in 2005 that forced evacuations. No injuries or evacuations were reported Friday.

The 3,820-meter volcano is 690 kilometres northwest of Mexico City, on the border of Colima and Jalisco states. It is one of the most active and potentially destructive volcanoes in Mexico.