Massive plume of ash and volcanic material billows above Mount Etna as it erupts again

Published connected 03/06/2025 - 3:36 GMT+2•Updated 4:00

Sicily's Mount Etna has erupted again pinch an strength not seen since February 2021. The eruption has sent a unreality of ash, fume and lapilli a fewer kilometres supra Europe's largest progressive volcano.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) says nan spectacle was caused erstwhile portion of nan southeast crater collapsed, resulting successful basking lava flows. It was nan 14th eruptive shape successful caller months

Volcanic material, according to preliminary observations, person not crossed nan the Valley of nan Lion, nan extremity constituent for tourer trips connected nan attack to nan summit. INGV besides noted successful a societal media station that "explosive activity from nan Southeast Crater has go a lava fountain."

The volcanic tremor reached very precocious intensities during nan eruptive peak, but according to experts, it has dropped again, signalling that nan activity whitethorn beryllium diminishing.

The nationalist institute said changes successful nan volcano's activity were first recorded astatine 00:39 CET connected Monday. The nickname later changed to a "Strombolian" eruption.

Strombolian eruptian are usually characterised arsenic discreet moderately explosive bursts which tin eject pyroclasts hundreds of meters into nan air.

Etna eruption: nary consequence for nan population

"I americium pursuing pinch nan utmost attention, done nan caput of our Civil Protection, nan improvement of nan business connected Etna. The partial illness of nan southeast crater is simply a arena that we are pursuing pinch utmost caution," said Renato Schifani, President of Sicily.

"At nan moment, from nan first surveys, nan worldly would not person exceeded nan rim of nan Valley of nan Lion and, arsenic they guarantee me, location is nary threat for nan population," he added.

The caput of nan location civilian protection, Salvo Cocina, has recommended nan utmost precaution to hikers successful nan vicinity of Mount Etna and urged them to debar nan volcano's acme area until further charismatic notice, arsenic risks of further eruptions and activity loom.

Catania airport, contempt nan Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation's (VONA) warnings, has remained operational.