Popocatépetl, State of Mexico — One woman has reportedly died after attempting to climb the Popocatépetl volcano. The woman, who was part of a group of four, was killed Thursday during an illegal assent of the volcano.
The group of three men and one woman plus a guide were approximately 300 meters from the top of the volcano when it began spewing rocks. Two of the four climbers were hit by the debris. Both were badly injured.
The two uninjured began an immediate decent for help after their guide reportedly left them hours earlier. At 1:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24, volunteers from the Mexican Alpine Relief Rescue Brigade began their assent to rescue the injured. When they finally arrived at the site, they found the 25-year-old woman dead.
The bodies of the dead woman and badly injured man were both lowered from the volcano by 8:00 a.m. Their recovery was captured on camera by the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED).
The Secretary of the Government of the State of Puebla, Ana Lucía Hill Mayoral, confirmed that the woman killed during the illegal climb was originally from Ecatepec, State of Mexico.
The Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED) issued a statement in which it explains that there is an exclusion radius of 12 kilometers around the volcano since activity in that area can prove lethal.
“Popocatépetl is an active and very dangerous volcano. Do not try to get close to the crater, nor exceed the radius of 12 km because you endanger your life,” they said.
Authorities in the State of Mexico have not said if charges against the illegal climbers will be filed.
