Original subtitles

NARRATOR: In Mexico, millions of people live in the shadow

of one of the Earth's most dangerous forces,

where volcanoes have buried villages...

TOM: This is all that is left of the village of San Juan.

NARRATOR: ...and influenced culture.

TOM: This is the plant that's being used to produce tequila.

NARRATOR: Where we get a bird's eye view at danger...

TOM: I don't know if I want it to erupt right now or not.

NARRATOR: ...and witness the raw power of Volcano de Colima at night.

TOM: Looked like a fire fountain probably 500 meters high.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: The Earth's continents are moving.

Between North and South America,

Mexico is being torn apart, bent,

and thrust upwards on a slow-motion tectonic

roller coaster.

One of the by-products of this movement is volcanism,

and Mexico has two of North America's most active

and dangerous volcanoes.

Millions of people live in their shadows.

They largely rely on faith

and Mexico's civil protection to keep them safe

from the dangers posed by these volatile giants.

NARRATOR: This is Puebla, Mexico's fourth largest city.

1.4 million people live beside the country's biggest,

Popocatepetl, which translates into "smoky mountain."

It's an active volcano, with an extremely violent past.

NARRATOR: Volcanoes like Popo are of major interest

to volcanologists like Dr. Tom Pfeiffer.

TOM: Popocatepetl is a massive stratovolcano.

In fact, it is not only one of the largest

and most active volcanoes in volume and by activity,

but it also is the second highest active volcano

in the whole of North America.

NARRATOR: Popocatepetl is a highly explosive volcano.

It has had 15 major eruptions

since the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century...

and five cataclysmic eruptions in the last 10,000 years.

Eruptions so massive that the volcano blew itself apart.

NARRATOR: For sixty years, Popocatepetl remained relatively quiet,

but re-awoke violently in December of 1994.

TOM: The first eruptions were quite powerful

and sent bombs to three, four kilometers' distance.

[Distant explosion]

TOM: We just saw one of these explosions that occur

maybe on average 10 times a day at the moment.

You see an ash plume that has risen to approximately

I'd guess one kilometer above the crater.

So nothing really that small.

If you had been very close it would be quite impressive.

NARRATOR: Since 2013 it has been erupting consistently,

and lately activity has been on the rise

raising new fears that a major eruption

might be on the horizon.

TOM: This volcano has clearly the potential to threaten

the area where we are, but also beyond.

Parts of Mexico City are built on deposits

from Popocatepetl, showing that in the past

eruptions have been able to affect that area.

So it is a volcano that is on the top priority list

of potential natural disasters to monitor.

NARRATOR: Puebla was founded nearly 500 years ago

by Spanish colonialists.

They had no way of knowing the extreme danger

the volcano posed...

that buried beneath their feet

lay the remnants of the ancient centre of Cholula,

a historic city that was wiped out

by an eruption of Popocatepetl.

NARRATOR: The event was rated as a Plinian eruption

similar to the colossal event that buried Pompeii.

Plinian Eruptions generate massive ash clouds

and pyroclastic flows:

hot avalanches of debris and ash

that destroy everything in their path.

NARRATOR: When the Spanish colonials started to build

the Our Lady of the Virgin Sanctuary

they did not realize that the hill they chose to build on

was the ruins of Mexico's largest pre-Hispanic pyramid

buried beneath ash and debris.

TOM: I think here's a very interesting spot

because we see the actual deposit of the ash flow

that invaded the city.

You see it's full of pottery fragments and debris

from building material.

This came racing down and destroyed anything

that was rising higher than a certain level.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: Because of the significance of the 16th century church,

only part of the pyramid has been excavated.

NARRATOR: To access the structure, archaeologists cut tunnels

into the volcanic debris.

NARRATOR: This archaeological site is one of several around Popo

that were buried in this eruption.

In places the debris is two stories deep.

TOM: I get this claustrophobic feeling

with these little alleys going here and there.

I think I have the sense of orientation.

We came from there, so we get back onto

the main tunnel over there, yeah.

An interesting, eerie feeling.

NARRATOR: Most of the tunnels are bricked up for support.

What Tom is looking for is evidence that the pyramid

was buried by ash fall or a pyroclastic flow.

TOM: Look, this is part of the old structure.

It's clearly built.

And this is the loose deposit, the ignimbrite.

NARRATOR: Ignimbrite is formed from compacted hot ash

and material that has flowed off the volcano

during an eruption.

TOM: You can see the marks where the deposit was removed.

NARRATOR: The remnants of these ancient cities

are a potent reminder of what could be

if Popo erupts again.

The worst-case scenario would be the collapse

of the cone during a major eruption.

But this is not the only hazard they pose.

A volcano's hydrothermal system effect

runs deep underground and often extends

beyond the volcano's structure.

Popo's underground system is so massive

that parts of Mexico City have been built on it.

This means that there can be far-reaching effects

beyond the normal eruption behavior.

NARRATOR: Buried within the crowded city,

a geological feature said to be a volcano

has fascinated people for a thousand years.

TOM: If it was a volcano you would expect lava,

but this is definitely not lava.

So, if you look at this dented surface

that's almost exactly what you would find

in limestone areas where caustic processes

chemically erode the limestone.

Basically it's the same stuff you find in the tubes

of your washing machine when you have

hard mineral-rich water; it's deposits from water.

NARRATOR: The cone does have a crater on the top

that descends below ground level.

It may not be from a volcano,

but it is likely the by-product of one.

As magma rises, it comes into contact

with the area's hydrological system.

Underground water is converted to steam

and it can erupt as a geyser.

TOM: It's said that it appeared in 1063 AD

during an eruption of Popocatepetl.

So from far maybe you would see steam,

hot steam coming out from there

that people would associate with volcanic activity.

TOM: Here you see it very nicely, how this cone is built up

by individual layers, some very thin like here,

and you see those typical cinder structures:

deposits left from water that was rich

in mainly carbonites.

So since its formation the hydrothermal system

that once fed it has apparently changed again.

But remember, it's a thousand years ago.

It's rare you can go inside.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: The probability of a geyser or a volcano

opening in downtown Cholula or Mexico City

is not very high.

But it is possible.

It happened eight hours away in Michocan State.

In 1943, a fissure opened up in a Mexican corn field

near the town of San Juan.

TOM: A farmer was there planting his field

and he witnessed the moment the volcano was born.

Fissures opened, lava came out,

and he probably probably witnessed rocks

being blown out and eventually saw fire underneath.

That must have been an amazing event.

NARRATOR: The volcano is called Paricutin

and it erupted for nine years

before it went extinct.

The event was a field day for scientists.

It was the first time that a volcano had been witnessed

from its birth to its death.

CNN listed it as one of

the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

NARRATOR: Paricutin's lava flow was slow enough

that most of the people in the area were able to move away

before the lava and ash destroyed their homes.

With the exception of the stone church,

Paricutin completely destroyed the town of San Juan.

NARRATOR: Today marks the 72nd anniversary

of the start of the eruption.

As they do every year, the locals mark that day

with celebrations.

And the ruins of San Juan's church

play a major part in that.

To get to the church you can either walk for two hours

or go by horseback.

TOM: For me it's an adventure.

I'm not very familiar with horses.

Are you going to be okay?

You're not going to throw me into the lava?

Go, go... Go, yes.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

TOM: This is all what is left of the village of San Juan.

The front part of the main church, with one tower,

is still standing.

Locally this is regarded as a miracle,

that the lava flows consumed everything

but spared at least part of the church.

NARRATOR: Divine intervention might have played a part in it,

but it's likely that the church's survival

had a lot to do with its solid construction.

The four spires were built

from heavily reinforced concrete.

It appears that was solid enough

to provide enough resistance to divert the lava flow.

NARRATOR: Although the spires were able to channel the lava

around much of the church,

lateral pressure became too great,

causing the building to collapse.

It was later covered in a second flow.

TOM: I'm standing just above the height of the ceiling

of the main ship on the first floor,

so I can't actually see the ground but it's almost there.

It must be seven, eight meters.

So this gives you an idea of the thickness of the flow.

NARRATOR: The original church altar is still intact.

People from all over the region come here to thank God

for sparing the people of San Juan.

NARRATOR: When you look at the way the altar resisted the lava flows

and destroyed much of the church and surrounding city,

it is understandable why people consider this

to be a miracle.

[Speaking Spanish]

NARRATOR: The eruption of Paricutin was so recent

that there are still people in the area

that remember the event.

[Speaking Spanish]

TOM: At the time of eruption he was 13 years old,

lived in a village up there.

People were quite afraid at that time.

But they had sufficient time to evacuate their belongings,

their goods; nobody was killed.

He said it was constantly raining ash on the villages

in the area and many houses collapsed

because of the weight of the ash on the roofs.

NARRATOR: Paricutin is what's known as a mono-genetic volcano

or a cinder cone that only erupts

once in its life and then dies.

TOM: But if you look at the landscape here,

it is actually the typical kind of activity

in this part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Zone.

Each cone we see here is basically the result

of a similar eruption than the one

that occurred 72 years ago.

NARRATOR: When activity returns, it chooses a new conduit

to erupt from, creating a new cinder cone

and that can be anywhere within the vast area

known as a volcanic field.

Usually a mono-genetic field has between

10 and 100 volcanoes.

But here in Mexico it's unusually large.

There are more than a thousand small cinder cones

within the field.

Science still doesn't know why magma erupts like this.

The working theory is that the ground is soft

and there is an unusually high number of underground faults

or fractures so that the magma has easy routes

to the surface.

TOM: Paricutin over nine years erupted an estimated total

of 1.5 cubic kilometers,

which is quite a sizable eruption, actually.

NARRATOR: After spending time looking at the way lava flows

reformed the area, Tom continues on

to explore Paricuti-n's crater.

NARRATOR: It's a short trip, just about half an hour,

but it's a steep and arduous climb.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

TOM: So this is it, where during nine years

all this ash that we see covering the slopes,

the entire landscape around the lava field, essentially.

NARRATOR: By the end of the first day,

the cone was already five stories high.

The eruption intensified as time went on.

TOM: There's still a lot of heat stored in the lower layers.

When rainwater gets into contact with the still-hot rocks

it is transformed into steam and comes out here

along small fissures.

TOM: In terms of the lifespan of a volcano,

this one had a very short one.

Typically volcanoes live for hundreds of thousands of years

and this one just nine years.

NARRATOR: If this volcanic field ever comes active again

it is likely that scientists will know ahead of time.

As magma rises from deep within the earth,

it will generate earthquakes as it fractures rock

on its way to the surface.

TOM: Modern seismic networks should be able to locate

progressively shallower earthquakes,

which is the clear signature of magma

intruding from the pressure towards the surface.

NARRATOR: By tracking the depth as it progresses upwards,

scientists will not only get an indication

of when an eruption will occur, but also where.

TOM: The least thing you want is a cone like this forming

under a village and being not prepared.

NARRATOR: When people hear about volcanoes erupting,

the general image is of lava flows rushing towards a city,

or burying being buried by ash and pyroclasitc flows.

NARRATOR: But most of the time, the real damage

from volcanic eruptions is from the ash.

Ash from nearby volcanoes can collapse roofs,

or even bury towns.

But over time that ash becomes a benefit.

Rising out of the Tequila Valley

is the volcano that bears its name.

NARRATOR: Volcanic ash is nutrient-rich,

which makes it ideal for agriculture.

Around the world volcanic ash is prized

for the flavor it gives to its crops.

Tom heads to central Mexico where an extinct volcano

is at the heart of one of Mexico's most iconic products:

tequila.

NARRATOR: Rising over the valley is the Tequila volcano.

Ash from an eruption 200,000 years ago

created the fertile valley which today is lined

with rows of a native spiky plant.

TOM: This is the plant that's been used to produce tequila.

It's a special variety of the agave family,

the so-called blue agave because of its color.

You have to be really careful with these

extremely sharp points of the leaves.

You can easily...

They will just punch through your skin.

I have a little cut here.

NARRATOR: Tom is at the tequila producers of Tres Tonos,

or "The Three Tonys," a medium-size producer

in the Tequila region.

These plants are blue agave and are a succulent,

not a cactus.

The difference is that the moisture is stored

in the leaves, and not in the stems or trunks.

The blue agave plant prefers the high altitudes

found in this region of Mexico.

They can grow to the height, and equal the weight

of an adult human.

NARRATOR: The method of growing and harvesting has remained

unchanged for centuries.

The plants are cared for and harvested by Jimador's.

These men have passed down their knowledge

about the blue agave from father to son

for generations.

TOM: What we are looking at is actually a tradition

that has been around for almost 500 years.

Since 1542 was the first recorded production of tequila,

and since tequila has become so famous

it has also become a symbol of Mexico.

It requires a lot of skill and strength

and it's usually taught from father to son.

NARRATOR: The agave takes between seven and nine years

to mature before they are harvested.

[Inaudible chatter]

TOM: Oh, this is very strong.

So if they can do 300 a day,

I probably can do five at this speed.

TOM: I thought I was getting close

but actually this seems to be the toughest part.

No, this is not for me...

Por favor.

TOM: It looks effortless almost.

As he does it, yeah, he just flips it over.

NARRATOR: The agave hearts are taken to the plant

where they are cooked in autoclaves and then crushed

to extract the juices.

The juice is then fermented.

TOM: Inside here is the juice, and it's fermenting.

It's so powerful to see, it reminds of a hot spring

at a volcano, actually.

NARRATOR: After the fermenting stage, the liquid is tested

for its alcohol content.

This process takes 72 hours.

TOM: He's measuring the density of the liquid,

which is directly proportionate to the content of alcohol.

Because alcohol is light, as fermentation goes on

more alcohol is being produced and the liquid becomes lighter.

So during the 72 hours,

this floating meter will slowly sink

as the density of the liquid goes down.

So at the time it will be here,

that means he knows that it contains 55% alcohol

and is ready to be distilled.

NARRATOR: Mexico has the Origin of Denomination for tequila,

which means to be classified as authentic

it must be produced in one of the certified growing locations

and must meet a certain standard of quality.

TOM: So of course the very final step is actually to drink it.

BOTH: Salud.

TOM: Mmm, I like that one.

It's a bit smoother and it has a slight woody taste.

We are at the foot of Tequila Volcano,

an extinct stratovolcano,

which has fertilized with its lava flows

and ash deposits this valley,

making the perfect ground for the production of tequila.

And now we are here and enjoying one of these bottles,

well part of it.

Salud.

TOM: Mmm.

That's very smooth, this one.

NARRATOR: While the Tequila region remains quiet,

Mexico's other active volcano is anything but.

Volcano de Colima, or "the Colima volcano"

has been increasing in activity.

In the three weeks before Tom's arrival

Colima has had some powerful eruptions,

raising serious concerns.

Like Popocateptl, it too has a large population

around its base.

Nearly a half million people live within its danger zone.

Given its eruptive history, there is some belief

that the volcano is on an 100-year cycle

that will culminate in a colossal eruption.

NARRATOR: The last colossal eruption was 1913.

It destroyed most of the volcano,

and caused widespread damage in the city of Colima,

killing eight people.

Today the area is vastly more populated,

making the threat greater.

TOM: [Speaking Spanish]

NARRATOR: Two people that live with that danger

are photographer Hernando Rivera and Ulises Chavez,

the owner of the cabin.

TOM: [Speaking Spanish]

[Speaking Spanish]

TOM: How's the volcano been in the past days?

NARRATOR: Active is good for Tom.

He's here to photograph Colima for a book

he is putting together on active volcanoes.

TOM: We are maybe-- I looked on the map--

It should be six, seven kilometers from the distance

in a straight line, to the summit.

So in case of a major explosion,

like last time in 1913,

we would not be safe here.

This area was hit by pyroclastic flows.

NARRATOR: A large eruption in the next five days is unlikely.

Although the volcano is going through a phase

of high activity, the frequent eruptions

indicate to Tom that pressure is not able to build up

inside the volcano.

And he is well outside the exclusion zone

imposed by Civil Protection.

If the intensity increases, or if abnormal activity

is detected, Colima's Civil Protection

will increase that zone for everyone's safety.

TOM: Have you been here before to see the eruptions?

HERNANDO: Yes, mostly on weekends...

I came here and just.. enjoy the show.

TOM: This doesn't get more comfortable.

[Distant explosion]

NARRATOR: Tom spends a lot of time visiting

and photographing active volcanoes.

He finds Colima irresistible.

The volcano undergoes frequent moderate eruptions.

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR: Colima is stratovolcano, a type of volcano

that is made up from layers of ejected material.

With each lava flow and ash eruption

the cone gets bigger.

NARRATOR: This type of volcano is prone to collapse

either during an eruption or from erosion.

To make matters worse, Colima produces

a sticky type of lava that collects at the summit

growing the volcano faster.

The result is a much steeper volcano

that adds to the likelihood of collapse.

Very active volcanoes like Colima often go through periods

of destruction followed by rebuilding.

TOM: In the past, tens of thousands of years ago

a much bigger volcano was in its place.

That volcano collapsed and generated a giant avalanche

that travelled that way, leaving a depression.

This one is in the stage of rebuilding its cone.

That's why it's so beautiful.

TOM: It's the last light of the day.

Only the upper part of the mountain has still sunlight

and it's glowing red,

and we had just a beautiful ash eruption.

It looked incredibly nice with the blue background

of the clear sky and the red ash.

A perfect evening.

NARRATOR: The explosions are impressive by day,

but they are spectacular by night.

[Rumbling]

[Explosion]

[Explosion]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

TOM: Wow, this was by far the most spectacular eruption so far.

TOM: After a relatively small one that followed six hours

of nothing, a big one started that lasted several minutes

with a continuous jet of incandescent ash.

Lots of bombs.

The whole upper half of the cone was bombarded.

And it was fantastic to see.

It was constantly pumping up.

You could hear the roaring of the explosion

and the tumbling sound of rocks falling down.

I'm happy to have it on picture.

NARRATOR: The upper part of the volcano

is covered with incandescent material.

What looks like small exhalations by day

take on a different look entirely at night,

where you can see the glow of molten lava.

NARRATOR: Each day at a volcano is different,

as it runs through short-term cycles.

It all depends on the rate that magma is flowing

into the chamber below the crater.

NARRATOR: Those volcanic bombs or giant rocks

are thrown out of the volcano and roll downhill.

The activity is building the volcano.

Over the period of a century, a volcano like Colima

can add a third or more to its size.

TOM: It seems the volcano has picked up since last night.

This morning we already had two quite sizable eruptions.

The upper flanks are full of dust

which comes from rock falls,

and actually now there is a rock fall going on.

TOM: To me, it seems it's picking up.

Both, especially the size of the average explosion.

It might be that the eruptions are less frequent

so the intervals are longer,

but that seems also to result in bigger explosions.

As more magma accumulates,

it is ejected during the subsequent explosion.

NARRATOR: What's occurring inside the crater is not visible.

From the ground, it's impossible to see

how many vents are causing the eruptions.

Often a volcano will have more than one eruptive vent,

and each will have a different characteristic.

Some vents produce smaller, less explosive eruptions.

At times all the vents within the crater erupt together

producing a larger than average eruption.

The best way to see what's happening is from above.

TOM: We have been so lucky that the volcano has started to erupt

while we were approaching it.

A scent of ash is rising from the central crater

and it's still going on after three, four minutes I think.

NARRATOR: Pilots play an important role in the global reporting

of volcanic eruptions.

Here the pilot is requested by the control tower

to relay information on the eruption column's height

and drift.

TOM: The pilot, with his experience,

told them it's about two kilometers tall.

Two kilometers above the summit,

which is a moderately large eruption, actually.

NARRATOR: This information will be relayed by local air traffic controllers

to any passenger planes using this busy corridor.

Volcanic ash is incredibly abrasive.

If it were to be sucked in by the plane,

it can cause the engines to stall.

A small turbo plane like the one that Tom is in

is not in danger.

The pilot's observation of the summit crater

will also get relayed on to the civil protection agency.

Tom will post his observations

to his volcano discovery website.

Those are widely used by the Smithsonian Institution's

global volcano activity report that is sent out weekly.

NARRATOR: From this vantage point, Tom can see just how steep

the volcano is.

As they draw level with the crater,

they can look right inside.

It looks like a large ash pit

where material has fallen back in from previous eruptions.

TOM: I am not sure I would like to have an explosion right now.

We are so close.

NARRATOR: In spite of Tom's wishes, the volcano erupts.

Fortunately it's not a sudden, big explosion

but something much smaller.

NARRATOR: A number of ash jets shoot up from multiple vents.

The initial burst clears the conduit,

so the eruption is sustained for a few minutes.

The eruption releases pressure inside the volcano.

As ash falls back down, it blocks the conduit

and the process of re-pressurization begins again.

NARRATOR: The flight gave Tom a great view of the crater.

Now he and Hernando Rivera are going to see Colima

from another angle.

They're heading to the volcano observation post

on top of Nevado de Colima,

an old, extinct part of the complex

next to the active cone,

which is known by its full name

Fuego de Colima.

The area is off limits to the general public

but Tom and Hernando get special permission.

Security is tight and the area is patrolled

to keep unauthorized thrill-seekers away.

They are greeted by members of the Jalisco Civil Protection,

who will guide them the rest of the way up the steep roads.

TOM: The guy is worried that the van will make it.

We convinced him to at least try it.

We'll see.

Well, it's typical for if you try to access

an active volcano that you have obstacles

that are not necessarily the nature of the volcano

but sometimes, or very often actually,

it's the authorities.

So apparently the way is very bad and dangerous.

DRIVER: Yes.

TOM: I'm not very afraid of the volcano

having an exceptional explosion and affecting us

at five kilometers' distance.

I'm actually more worried of the narrow road

and this car flipping over

and landing down there in some gully.

NARRATOR: Access to active volcanoes varies throughout the world.

In Hawaii, you can drive up to Kilauea's active crater,

and at Italy's Mount Etna, you can ski the active area.

However, once an eruption starts

the skiing is shut down until the eruption stops.

TOM: I think we're just a little bit higher than the summit of Fuego.

NARRATOR: Tom is heading into the Jalisco Civil Protection Agency's

volcanic observation post on Colima's neighbor.

It's an older, extinct volcano

that is part of the same complex as Colima.

It's an excellent and safe vantage point to monitor

the changes at the summit of the active volcano.

NARRATOR: The structure is built with reinforced concrete

that can withstand a large eruption.

[Distant explosion]

NARRATOR: The volcano is still very active.

TOM: We're just having an eruption.

It's a small one, but it's so beautiful

because we're so much closer than from our cabin down there,

which is also a great view from the west.

And it's incredible.

You have the feeling you can see each detail

of the crater rim.

TOM: Probably going to have a bigger ones.

And already it's very beautiful.

We're just a little bit higher I would say

than the top of the crater of Colima,

Fuego de Colima.

The view is just amazing.

To the west, see the chain of mountains all the way

to the Pacific coast in the far distance there.

We are almost 4,000 meters above sea level here.

NARRATOR: As the sun goes down, Tom gets ready

for Mother Nature's greatest show.

NARRATOR: Today the eruptions have been between

two and six hours apart,

so there's nothing to do but be patient and wait.

TOM: We are here and just facing Fuego volcano,

maybe four kilometers away.

It's 20 minutes past 11 or something.

Beautiful moonlight, almost no wind.

We're at 4,000 meters altitude.

Although it's freezing it's quite bearable because

there's no wind.

We have the feeling it might erupt soon again.

There is a little incandescent spot,

I guess it's what's left of the most recent lava dome.

This glow sometimes increases,

but it looks as if it has been quiet for awhile

so I have this feeling it might erupt very soon again.

Anyway, we're ready here.

NARRATOR: As the pressure increases, small vents open up,

shooting out burning gas.

Inside the crater, the conduit is plugged.

It will need to build up enough pressure

before it can blow the plug.

[Distant explosion]

NARRATOR: This builds to the point it can sustain itself,

and an eruption happens.

[Explosion]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR: This is a full eruption, and it's a good one.

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR: These eruptions can continue for as long

as there's pressure in the conduit.

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

TOM: I think this was probably the biggest one

we've had in the five days we've been observing Colima.

It looked like a fire fountain probably 500 meters high.

It's not a lava fountain but it looked as if one.

All this incandescent ash, blocks being ejected,

and then falling back onto the flank

and tumbling down until the whole flank here

was glowing red.

It was an amazing show.

I'm glad we insisted coming here

and waiting out in the cold at night.

It was really worth it.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: The following morning, the volcano

is once again very active.

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

[Rumbling]

NARRATOR: If the idea of getting this close to an active volcano

seems reckless or foolhardy, then consider Tom's view.

Experienced volcanologists don't take risks.

They carefully watch the cycles and know when the climb

would be too dangerous.

They adhere to the rules put in place

by the local authorities.

Tom believes it's safer than driving on motorways.

But what makes it most worthwhile for Tom

is that he gets a front row seat to see the elemental forces

that shape our earth.

TOM: There's this incredible beauty of this mountain,

which every now and then spits out fire.

It's a sense of something much bigger than humans.

There is this aspect of mystery of nature,

something much bigger than us.

We're very prone to give us this sensation

of being close to the elements.

Something that reminds you of the creation of the Earth,

and that's what's most fascinating to me.

Combined with the sheer beauty of something symmetric

where there is a crater, and all of a sudden

you see fire coming out from there.

NARRATOR: For now, Colima continues to erupt

moderately and safely.

It is likely that before any major eruption

the volcano's activity will pick up

and will demonstrate signs that will give scientists

enough warning to safely evacuate the people

surrounding the volcano.

Time will tell.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: The history of humanity has always been affected

and rerouted by natural disasters.

We know that certain kinds of volcanic eruptions

have the power to bring incredible destruction

in moments.

But now we have sophisticated technology

and a better understanding of the mechanisms at work

inside a volcano to monitor them.

In Mexico, millions of people live in the shadows

of active volcanoes.

They will erupt again.

The unanswered question is when.

But for now we observe and wait,

and marvel at their power and beauty.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪