Mount Etna erupts, sending a vast column of ash and smoke into the sky above Sicily. The eruption triggered panic among hikers on the slopes of Europe’s most active volcano.
Footage shared on social media shows people running for safety down the mountainside as dense smoke intensifies overhead. Prior to the eruption there was a sharp increase in volcanic tremors recorded from 10pm. Activity peaked shortly before 1am.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirmed the volcano was producing “strong strombolian explosions of growing intensity”. These explosions shifted into a full lava fountain eruption from the South-East Crater. The institute reported that the volcanic tremor reached “very high values”, with its source located in the same crater area.
According to INGV, a pyroclastic flow likely formed due to a partial collapse on the northern flank of the South-East Crater. Fine ash was reported falling in the Piano Vetore area, on the volcano’s southern slope.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse issued a warning after detecting an ash plume rising to around 6,400 metres in altitude. The situation is being monitored closely due to the risk it poses to air traffic.
Mount Etna, which dominates eastern Sicily, is the tallest volcano in Europe. Its height varies with each eruption, as the shape and elevation of its craters shift. As of September, INGV reported that the Voragine Crater had reached 3,403 metres above sea level, overtaking the South-East Crater, which had held the record since 2021.
Etna has three main summit craters — the Voragine, South-East, and North-East. All are active.
The dangers of volcanic gases and ash
In addition to ash and lava, eruptions can release toxic gases. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that volcanic gases can cause symptoms ranging from eye irritation and headaches to serious breathing difficulties. Prolonged exposure has been linked to long-term respiratory issues and, in high concentrations, can prove fatal.
No injuries have been reported so far. Emergency services remain on alert as the eruption continues.
