Grim Christmas for volcano evacuees

Authorities have been stockpiling food for the evacuees

Tens of thousands of people in Mexico have been spending Christmas in temporary shelters, a week after a volcanic eruption forced them from their homes.

Popocatepetl: Most dangerous for decades

On Monday, the area surrounding the volcano, Popocatepetl, was covered in ash.

The authorities say that pressure inside the volcano is still building up, and have warned local residents not to return to their homes.

Last week, Popocatepetl threw molten rock thousands of metres into the air in its most dangerous burst of activity for decades.

Exclusion zone

The BBC Mexico correspondent, Peter Greste, says the government has done its best to create a celebratory atmosphere for the 40,000 evacuees, providing them with chicken dinners.

However, he says it has been a difficult time for the people who had to leave their homes within the 20km (12 miles) exclusion zone around the volcano.

Many had to leave Christmas presents behind when they left, though some have made short trips back to ther homes to recover some belongings.

Popocatepetl, which is about 65km south-east of Mexico City, was dormant for almost 70 years before becoming active again in 1994.

Lava release

The queue for food at an evacuees' shelter

Our correspondent says the government has been stockpiling almost a million tonnes of food for the evacuees, who could be living in temporary shelters for months.

He says that this time, unlike in 1994, there have not been many reports of soldiers or other people looting the abandoned homes.

Vulcanologists say the lava building up inside the volcano which must eventually be released.

But they cannot say when or how the eruption will occur.