Popocatepetl continues spewing ash, gas

Residents living near Mexico's erupting volcano Popocateptl are taking early precautions.

Activity at the volcano's crater has increased in recent days with gas and ash columns reaching three kilometres high.

Civil protection authorities met with residents to ease fears about lava flow saying that any lava would cool before it reached the town.

Although no evacuation orders have been given, some residents say they will be ready to move should the moment arise.

Older residents say, I was born here, I will die here. But not me, this man says. If there is something, we need to leave.

Popocateptl last major eruption was in 2000.