On July 4, 2015, a long bright UFO was seen passing over the Volcán de Colima in the Mexican state of Colima. On July 9th, unusually large amounts of ash began spewing from the volcano in a manner observers described as “atypical.” On July 12th, the nearby airport was closed and 800 people were evacuated from the area. Was the UFO sent to give them an early warning which they and local officials ignored?

The UFO was recorded by the webcam constantly aimed at the volcano on July 4th between 21:10:30 and 21:10:50 (that’s from 30 seconds after 9:10 pm to 50 seconds after 9:10 pm). Colima is one of the most active volcanoes in North America so the plume rising above it in the photos was not a cause for alarm … yet. The sequence of photographs shows the cigar-shaped UFO moving quickly. There is also what may be a second dimmer UFO passing in the opposite direction underneath it.

This is not the first UFO to be seen near Volcán de Colima. In January 2015, a horse-shaped UFO was seen near the volcano. UFOs were also seen in 2012 and 2014 at the Popocatepetl volcano south of Mexico City, a place where mysterious giant beings have been seen climbing.

The July 4th UFO may be the first to appear so close in time prior to a large eruption. Most seem to appear when the volcano is not active or immediately after an eruption, like the UFO seen in Japan after the Mount Shindake eruption in May 2015.

Volcán de Colima has not had a major eruption since 1913, so nearby residents are understandably nervous when they hear officials describe the recent activity as “atypical” and they get an atypical visit from a UFO. With the village Yerbabuena near the base of the volcano already covered with two inches of ash, seismic experts are preparing for the collapse of the volcano’s domes and a possible major eruption.

UFOs continue to be seen regularly at volcanoes and earthquakes around the world. Are they observing, warning or preparing to evacuate?