( CNN ) -- Mexico 's Popocatepetl volcano rumbled Saturday with explosions and expulsions of ash and gas , prompting authorities to bar people from getting close to a crater that is within sight of Mexico City and many of its 19 million residents . The country 's National Center for Disaster Prevention reported that -- following 12 `` low-intensity '' emissions of a small amount of water vapor and gas -- there was `` an exhalation with some explosive component '' around 9 a.m. ( 10 a.m . ET ) . This was `` followed by a spasmodic tremor ... with moderate to large amplitudes , which has been accompanied by a continuous emission of ... ash and water vapor , '' according to the government agency . At that time , the emissions had gone at most 400 meters ( 1,300 feet ) above Popocatepetl 's crater . Ash had fallen on the towns of San Nicolas de los Ranchos and Huejotzingo , as well as the northern part of the city of Puebla . As the day wore on , the volcanic material soared even higher . An updated government report at 2 p.m. -- three hours after the first one went out -- indicated that ash , steam and gas were spewing an average of 500 meters up into the sky . Mexican authorities restricted access within 12 kilometers ( 7.5 miles ) of the volcano . Located in a national park southeast of Mexico City , Popocatepetl can be seen from there on a clear day . It is one of Mexico 's highest peaks and last had a major eruption in 2000 . But there have been rumblings since then . Last April , for instance , scientists observed a continuous column of water vapor and moderate amounts of ash rising from the crater .
Ash and water vapor soar above Mexico 's Popocatepetl crater . Ash falls on several towns and parts of the city of Puebla . Comment: On a clear day , Popocatepetl can be seen in Mexico City .