A powerful eruption at Italy’s Mt. Etna on Monday forced tourists to flee as a plume of gas, ash, and rock rose “several kilometers high” above the popular volcano, Italian authorities reported.
Tour Groups Caught in the Chaos
Footage on social media shows long lines of tourists escaping downhill.
“We were nearly grazed—look at this cloud here,” Giuseppe Panfallo said, a guide with Go Etna, in a video shared with CNN.
“An immense smoke, immense, immense roar.”
No Casualties Reported
Sicilian Civil Protection confirmed that tour operators were being contacted to ensure everyone was safe. Authorities have closed roads near the eruption to keep people away.
Observatory: Partial Collapse and Lava Flows
The eruption—one of the largest since 2014—caused a partial collapse of the northern flank of the southeast crater, producing lava flows. Explosions were heard as far as Taormina and Catania.
Airports Remain Open, Flights Diverted
No ash is expected to reach Catania city, but authorities remain vigilant. Airports in Catania and Palermo remain open, though some flights have been diverted.
Pyroclastic Eruption Confirmed
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory described the event as a pyroclastic eruption, with a deadly mix of gases, lava grains, ash, and rock fragments descending the slopes.
No Immediate Threat to Nearby Cities
While Mt. Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, eruptions like this often subside quickly. Nonetheless, authorities remain on high alert to protect residents and tourists.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.