Popocatepetl erupts - in pictures

A thick column of water vapor, gases and small amounts of ash was blown up by the Popocatepetl volcano Photograph: Hector Aiza Ramirez/Corbis

Pupils, some of them wearing surgical masks, attend a class in San Nicolas de los Ranchos. Schools resumed classes after they had been shut for several days due to a raised alert level Photograph: Reuters

Smoke plumes rise above Popocatepetl, viewed from the Dolores chappel in San Andres Cholula Photograph: Francisco Guasco/EPA

Birds fly in the foreground as a plume of ash and steam rises from Popocatepetl Photograph: AP

A farmer works his land as Popocatepetl spews a cloud of ash and steam into the air Photograph: Reuters

Families wait in a line for bottled water and face masks for protection from the ash Photograph: Dieu Nalio Chery/AP

A smoke cloud seen from San Andres Cholula in Puebla state Photograph: Francisco Guasco/EPA

Popocatepetl seen from Santiago Xalitxintla Photograph: Pablo Spencer/AFP/Getty Images