Ashes to ashes: Locals sweep volcanic debris after fresh eruption of Mount Etna covers its city with debris
- Etna’s activity intensified earlier today, as it brought out the lava at a height of 300 meters, with a subsequent ash rain.
- Residents of nearby villages, including Giarre, Fornazzo and Catania, were allowed to clean up debris.
- The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania confirmed the resumption of activity earlier today
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Residents living in the shadow of Mount Etna were forced to sweep the volcanic debris after a fresh eruption covered their city with debris.
Etna’s activity intensified earlier today as it dumped lava at 300 meters above sea level, with subsequent rain of volcanic ash falling on nearby villages, including Giarre, Fornazzo and Catania, in Sicily, Italy.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania confirmed that there was a resumption of “strombolian activity” – volcanic eruptions with relatively light explosions – this morning.
Residents living in the shadow of Mount Etna were forced to sweep the volcanic debris after a fresh eruption covered their city with debris. In the photo: A woman sweeps the volcanic ash in Fornazzo
Etna’s activity intensified earlier today (pictured), as it threw lava at a height of 300 meters, with a subsequent rain of volcanic ash falling on nearby villages.
For more than a week, Etna has been licking lava, ash and volcanic rocks regularly, with the nearby Catania airport temporarily closed.
Residents of nearby villages have now been allowed to clean up debris after which they have continuously covered streets, cars and houses.
At an altitude of 3,329 m, it is the highest active volcano in Europe and the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps.
Previous eruptions have led to injuries, including in 2017 10 people were injured, including a BBC news crew.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania confirmed that there was a resumption of “strombolian activity” – volcanic eruptions with relatively light explosions – this morning (pictured)
For more than a week, Etna has been licking lava, ash and volcanic rocks regularly, with the nearby Catania airport temporarily closed. In the picture: The man sweeps the ashes on the streets of Giarre
Residents of nearby villages have now been allowed to clean up debris after which they have continuously covered streets, cars and houses. Pictured: Giarre (left) and Venerina (right)
Scientists have expressed concern that Etna is slowly slipping into the Mediterranean Sea by up to 14 mm each year.
This could result in the collapse of part of the volcano into water, the risk of debris entering the surrounding ocean and potentially devastating waves.
The 700,000-year-old volcano is also the second most active on Earth, after Mount Kilauea in Hawaii.
Located between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, it generates almost constant eruptions of varying degrees.
It produces more than tens of millions of tons of lava and more than 7 million tons of carbon dioxide, water and sulfur dioxide every year.
Scientists have expressed concern that Etna (presented earlier today) is slowly slipping into the Mediterranean Sea by up to 14 mm each year
Residents of nearby towns and villages previously said it looked like it had rained stones as a thick blanket of ash covered the town (remnants of Giarre earlier today)
At an altitude of 3,329 m, it is the highest active volcano in Europe and the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps. Pictured: Giarre cleaning operation
The most severe recent eruption occurred in March 2017, when nearly a dozen people were injured.
But eruptions have been recorded since 1500 BC, with a devastating eruption in 1169 that caused an earthquake that killed about 15,000 people.
In 1992, lava flowing down its slope threatened Zafferana, a city of 7,000, in what is believed to be the largest volcanic flank eruption in 300 years.
Soldiers used controlled explosions to deflect lava flow.