The dusting of ash recorded during the early morning hours of Monday in Mexico City has been attributed to increased activity by the Popocatépetl volcano and spread over 10 delegations, City Civil Defense Secretary Fausto Lugo reported.
The official said that the delegations reporting the presence of ash are: Tláhuac, Milpa Alta, Iztapalapa, Tlalpan, Magdalena Contreras, Cuajimalpa, Xochimilco, Álavaro Obregón, Coyoacán and Benito Juárez.
Before the ash fell on a large portion of the country’s capital, the local secretary of health recommended that residents protect their eyes, noses and mouths when outside and avoid exercising outdoors.
In addition, the public was advised to keep doors, windows and cellars closed and and to seal any cracks with moist rags to limit the amount of dust filtering into homes and buildings.
Other recommendations to avoid health hazards were to cover water tanks and other deposits of water; keep removing ashes to avoid accumulation on lightweight roofs (plates, cardboard, canvas, cloth and other similar materials); cover all coffee pots and clean up ashes in sacks and plastic bags to avoid letting any get into drainage
Above all, people with signs of irritation or trouble should go to the health centers and city hospitals to get better information and medical direction, or call the Medicina a Distancia at 5132 0909.
LUCILLY ZAVALA