IMPORTANT SECURITY WARDEN MESSAGE FROM US EMBASSY

[meroberts]

The National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) has announced that the alert level for Popocatepetl Volcano has been raised to yellow phase three from yellow phase two. CENAPRED?s announcement indicated that the lava inside the volcano has increased which could potentially result in magma expulsion, explosions of increased intensity, ash rain, and pyroclastic flows. The third phase of alert is the third-highest warning on the center?s seven-step scale. The announcement added that emergency services should ready evacuation teams and shelters, limit access to the area around the volcano and alert air-traffic control systems. The population centers around the vicinity of the volcano, including Estado de Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, and Tlaxcala are recommended to pay particular attention to any official information regarding the volcanic activity. As per the CENAPRED announcement, tourism activity is prohibited within a 12 kilometer radius from the volcano. If you travel to the area around Popocatepetl, you should familiarize yourself with evacuation plans, monitor news outlets, use good judgment, and take all appropriate safety measures as volcanic conditions can change rapidly. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov The Embassy's internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/. Area consular agencies include:Acapulco: Hotel Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 ? Suite 14; telephone (011)(52)(744) 481-0100 or (011)(52)(744) 484-0300. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa; telephone (011)(52)(755) 553-2100. Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcala No. 407, Interior 20; telephone (011)(52)(951)514-3054 or (011)(52)(951) 516-2853. San Miguel de Allende: Centro Comercial La Luciernaga, Libramiento Manuel Zavala (Pepe KBZON), telephone (011)(52)(415) 152-2357 U.S. citizens in other areas of Mexico should seek the assistance of the U.S. Consulates or Consular agencies located throughout the country. A directory of Consulates and Consular Agencies can be found on the Embassy website http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.