Powerful Eruption Again at Italy’s Mount Etna – Public Alert Issued, But No Major Risk

Powerful Eruption Again at Italy’s Mount Etna – Public Alert Issued, But No Major Risk

Mount Etna, the formidable volcano located on Italy’s island of Sicily, erupted once again on Monday. The country’s volcano monitoring agency reported that the eruption produced hot ash and lava, resulting in a pyroclastic flow. However, no danger to the local population or air traffic has been reported, as residents are accustomed to such regular volcanic activity.

The Volcanology Division of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) stated that on Monday, the volcano’s southeastern crater experienced “almost continuous” and “increasingly intense” explosions.

By midday local time, INGV Vulcani announced on social media that “explosive activity from the southeastern crater has transformed into a lava fountain.” Infrared images released by the institute showed lava flowing down the slopes of the volcano.

Earlier, a video posted on the institute’s Facebook page showed a massive plume of smoke and ash rising into the clear blue sky.

According to the agency, the lava flow began after a portion of the volcano’s southeastern crater collapsed.

Only the areas near the summit of Mount Etna were deemed at risk, and these zones were closed to tourists on Monday as a precaution, reported the Associated Press (AP). INGV official Stefano Branca said the measure was taken as a safety precaution. In one video, some tourists are seen running down a mountain trail with a cloud of smoke rising behind them.

Sicily’s regional governor, Renato Schifani, confirmed that the pyroclastic flow posed no threat to the island’s residents.

Mount Etna is considered Europe’s most active volcano and is also one of the most active stratovolcanoes in the world. A stratovolcano is a cone-shaped volcano formed over long periods by layers of lava and ash.

About a year ago, Etna had a significant eruption that created a circular cloud formation known as a “vortex bubble.”
In recent years, Mount Etna has erupted at least once annually. Although these eruptions occasionally blanket nearby towns in ash, they have rarely caused major problems.