Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe, erupted on Monday (2) on the Italian island of Sicily. The activity began around 3:50 am at local time, after tremors detected since midnight, and follows with increasing intensity, as reported by the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology of Italy (Ingv).
According to the institute, there are records of “crescent -intensity stombolian explosions” and current activity is considered “almost continuous”. A cloud of ashes has reached approximately 6,400 meters in altitude, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Advisory Center, the body responsible for aviation risk monitoring.
Images released on social networks showed tourists running away from the mountain while a thick column of smoke was formed. The phenomenon, which was already monitored, led to the preventive closure of the areas of access to the summit, told the mayor of Catania, Enrico Tarantino, to the newspaper Corriere della Sera. “Everything is normal and under control. It is a recurring phenomenon that was already expected,” he said.
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Surveillance cameras captured a pyroclastic flow – avalanche of hot rocks, ash and gases – around 11:30 am, probably caused by the collapse of material from the northern face of the southeast crater. The explosive activity of the crater intensified, forming a lava jet.
Despite visible smoke and toxic gases emission, no victims or significant damage was not reported outside the eruption area. Experts warn, however, with the breathing risks associated with prolonged exposure to ashes and gases, such as eye irritation, difficulty breathing and, in extreme cases, death.
Mount Etna currently has 3,403 meters high at the east edge of the voragine crater, but its structure undergoes constant changes due to frequent eruptions.
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(COM Corriere della Sera and The Independent)
