Latest News of Massive Eruption of Italy's Mount Etna

Tourists were forced to flee the volcanic ash emitted by Mount Etna when it erupted on Monday morning in Sicily, Italy. Here is the latest news on the massive eruption and the potential dangers that it poses.

Mount Etna Erupts Early Monday in Sicily

Mount Etna erupted early Monday in Sicily, sending plumes of volcanic ash soaring into the air over the popular tourist destination. According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the eruption started at about 4:14 am local time. The event began with several strombolian explosions that grew increasingly strong. These short bursts of gas and lava are a distinguishing feature of Mount Etna.

The INGV released thermal images later in the morning. These images demonstrated the presence of pyroclastic material, including ash, gas, and hot rock, coming down the slopes of the famous volcano. Several onlookers also captured the eruption on video.

The video footage shows people running to safety as the ash darkened the skies just as the sun was starting to rise. Some of the ash has begun to fall in the Piano Vetore area, raising alarm bells. In addition, the INGV said that tremor levels are high and increasing in number. This activity is a sign that more eruptions could be on the horizon. People are being told to remain away from Mount Etna's upper slopes as a precaution.

By late Monday morning, officials were hopeful that the lava flow had not crossed over into the Valley of the Lion. This natural basin surrounds a section of the volcano and serves as a barrier. The cloud of dangerous ash is drifting to the southwest, bringing down air quality levels and visibility.

The eruption began to weaken by the late evening hours. All three of the lava flows had begun the cooling process by the time. The observatory was also noting that the tremors had begun to decrease as the sun started to set.

The eruption generated explosions that were reported as far away as Catania and Taormina, located up to 30 miles from the volcano. Eyewitnesses report hearing a sudden and volatile boom at the time of the initial eruption.

Renato Schifani, president of the Sicilian Region, said that there was no danger to people as of Monday evening. Schifani credited local emergency crews for the safe evacuation of those in the path of the ash and lava.

Officials with the observatory said that the preliminary data indicate a partial collapse of the northern fringe of Etna's southeast crater. This is the same part of the volcano that has generated lava flows over the last few months.

The good news is that none of the ash is predicted to reach the city of Catania, located at the foot of the volcano. However, Catania Mayor Enrico Tarantino said that local authorities are ready to send out alerts should the wind change direction and necessitate the residents to take cover.

Airports in Catania and Palermo are still open as the ash is not moving in that direction. Many of the roads leading up toward the volcano have been closed to keep the avenues clear for first responders and emergency vehicles. Law enforcement is asking people to avoid the area completely.

About Mount Etna

Located on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Mount Etna is the tallest and most active volcano in Europe. Approximately 1.5 million people visit Mount Etna each year. Some of these tourists hike nearly to the summit.

According to the Sicilian Civil Protection Agency, about one dozen tour operators are working on the volcano at any given time. The INGV confirmed that all of the tourists and workers who were on Etna when it erupted have been brought to safety.

The eruptions occur with varying levels of intensity, making it difficult to predict how dangerous any particular event could be. The eruptions can stop quickly after beginning, despite the regular activity. There has not been an eruption of this degree since 2014.

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