February 19, 1919 Eruption of Popocatepetl

Start Date: 1919 Feb 19 (?), Stop Date: 1922. Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 1. Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption, Explosive eruption, Phreatic explosion(s), Lava dome extrusion, Fatalities. (reference #2432)

1919 Feb 19. Some fatalities. (reference #9675)

"An 1857 publication outlined additional details and included a yellow, crusty map that demonstrated the preferred route to the mountaintop, allowing climbers to navigate around dangerous ice crevices and deep volcanic

sands. Other sources detailed the expansion of mining operations during the Porfirio Díaz presidency, which included the construction of additional railroads and depots for transport to Veracruz, where sulphur from Popocatépetl was shipped to markets around the world...

Shoeboxes of mildewed materials in the municipal archives contained records dating to the late nineteenth century and included several references to different sulphur mining

operations. However, one example stood out in the historical records and oral histories of the townspeople. As recounted by official and informal documents, in 1919 a fledgling sulphur mining operation planted dynamite in

crevices deep within the crater of Popocatépel in an attempt to gain access to greater sulphur deposits. The charges were poorly placed, however, and an explosion and cave-in caused the prolonged death of thirteen individuals..." (from p. 30, reference #9676)