This is the terrifying moment when Mexico’s giant Popocatepetl volcano blows its top, sending a river of lava down its slope.

A cloud of ash and smoke rises more than a mile into the sky as tonnes of red-hot rocks and debris are sent flying through the air.

At the same time, what looks like a huge spill of lava escapes from the crater’s rim.

This stunning video of the eruption – recorded at 00.29am on 31st January – was caught on a remote thermal camera set up to monitor activity at the peak.

The eruption was so powerful that it triggered an earthquake measuring 0.8 on the Richter scale.

It followed earlier warnings to evacuate the area after scientists predicted the volcano was about to blow.

Popocatepetl – a stratovolcano built up over centuries of eruptions – is so large it straddles three Mexican states, Puebla, Morelos, and Mexico.

Locals have been advised by authorities not to go within 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of the volcano for safety reasons.

In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the National Centre for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) said: “In the last 24 hours [30th-31st January], through the monitoring systems of the Popocatepetl volcano, 198 exhalations accompanied by water vapour, other volcanic gases and ash have been detected.

“Additionally, 386 minutes of tremors were recorded, of which 213 mins were high frequency and 173 mins were harmonic tremors.

“In addition, four minor explosions recorded yesterday at 20:53 and today at 05:33, 06:19 and 07:21 local time.

“And a moderate explosion , recorded today at 00:29 local time, produced an ash column approximately 1.8 km high and hurled incandescent fragments to a distance of almost two km from the crater rim.

“A volcanotectonic earthquake was also detected yesterday at 12:25 local time, with a calculated magnitude of 0.8.

“CENAPRED emphatically reiterates the recommendation not to ascend to the crater of the volcano since there is a possibility of explosions, as has been seen on several occasions in the past, which imply the emission of incandescent fragments and in case of heavy rains, move away from the bottoms of ravines due to the danger of mud and debris flows.

“The Volcanic Alert remains in Yellow Phase 2.”