Mount Etna Erupts: A Spectacular Display of Towering Smoke and Ash in Sicily

Milan – Sicily‘s Mount Etna put on a spectacular display on Monday, sending plumes of smoke and ash several miles into the sky; however, officials reported that the activity does not pose any threat to residents.

The alert level concerning the volcanic activity was elevated at Catania Airport, though no immediate flight cancellations were noted.

According to Italy’s INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the recent activity at Europe’s most active volcano was triggered by the collapse of sections of the southeastern crater, leading to the emergence of hot lava flows. Officials noted that the volcanic activity appears to have diminished. This marks the 14th phase of eruptions over the past few months.

Stefano Branca, an INGV representative in Catania, indicated that the danger zone is primarily confined to the summit of Mount Etna.

Sicily President Renato Sifani stated that the lava flow from the eruption has remained within natural containment zones, “essentially posing no threat to the population.”

The eruption was extensively documented through videos and images that quickly spread across social media platforms. Italian media reports also noted that the tremors were widely experienced in nearby towns and villages surrounding Mount Etna.