MEXICO CITY, MX - Mexico’s largest volcano, Popocatépetl, has erupted several times over the last few days, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention reports. The volcano, which is less-than-affectionately known as El Popo, spewed both ash and burning rocks into the air in an area near Mexico City. 

CENAPRED, Mexico’s natural disaster center, stated that since this past Sunday afternoon, Popocatépetl had erupted four times. The center said the explosions were prompted by two small tectonic earthquakes, magnitudes 1.2 and 1.6, respectively. The result was 73 volcanic plumes of ash and rock, according to news source UPI.com.

Espectacular explosión del Volcán @Popocatepetl_MX esta mañana empezando la semana en #HardMode #DeColección pic.twitter.com/oRQUp6GbVO

— Webcams de México (@webcamsdemexico) August 16, 2016

"The CENAPRED urges you not to approach the volcano, especially the crater, due to the danger of falling ballistic fragments," the disaster center warned in its statement. 

Popocatépetl resides about 43 miles southeast of Mexico City, and has been fraught with activity over the past year.

This past March, CENAPRED raised the environmental alert level for the volcano to the second degree out of three, meaning residents should be prepared to evacuate at any time. As we reported earlier this year, April saw a huge eruption for El Popo. Ash was shot up three kilometres into the sky at such a volume that the nearby Puebla airport was shut down entirely. 

Will we see any effect on the produce industry due to the week’s eruptions? As more information comes to light, AndNowUKnow will bring you updates.