2023-11-13 10:01:03
The Etna volcano in Sicily has spewed lava several times in the past few days. There were initially no reports of major damage, but operations continued at the airport in Catania. The situation calmed down on Monday.
The largest active volcano in Europe: Mount Etna has been spewing lava again in the past few days, turning the sky over Sicily orange.
Etna Walk / Archyde.com
eg./(dpa) Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. For the residents of the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily, he is a constant threat due to his constant activities. Nevertheless, the residents have gotten used to living with Etna. The Sicilians almost affectionately call it “Mamma Etna” or “A’muntagna” – their mountain. And her mountain has been active again in the past few days.
On Saturday night, Mount Etna spewed large amounts of glowing lava into the sky. Also on Sunday it could be seen spewing large masses of lava that slowly flowed down the mountain. A thick cloud of igneous gases and ash stood over the mountain.
Flight operations in Catania continued
According to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the so-called eruption column reached a height of 4.5 kilometers. Explosions could be seen and heard again and again. The alert level in the region has been increased from yellow to orange.
Ash also fell on several towns around Mount Etna, such as Milo and Zafferana Etnea. Vibrations were felt around the island’s capital Catania. There was “moderate explosive activity at the summit craters,” said the INGV. There were initially no reports of major damage. Operations at Catania island airport continued.
Plumes of smoke drift from Mount Etna over Sicily on Sunday.
Salvatore Allegra / AP
However, the volcanic activity was only short-lived. The all-clear was given on Monday. Etna has calmed down again, said the INGV and reported a relatively quiet night.
The situation was different during the last outbreak in August. At that time, Etna released large amounts of ash. Catania Airport had to suspend operations for several hours. In Catania, the mayor banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles for 48 hours because the streets were covered in ash.
The eruption in February 2022 was even more impressive: an ash cloud around 12 kilometers high darkened the sky over Sicily.
Constantly active, but outbreaks have little power
Mount Etna is approximately 3350 meters high. The exact height changes again and again due to eruptions and cinder cones. UNESCO added the volcano to its World Heritage list in 2013. The region around the volcano is densely populated. 300,000 people live in the city of Catania alone. Etna is constantly monitored and is one of the most studied volcanoes in the world. Although it is constantly active and spews lava repeatedly, the eruptions usually have little power. Compared to other volcanoes, it is considered harmless.
It is more dangerous if a volcano has been dormant for a long time. Vesuvius in Naples, for example, is particularly unpredictable. Its last eruption was in March 1944. At that time, 26 people died, two cities were buried under the lava masses and 80 American air force bombers were destroyed at a nearby military airfield. A new eruption could endanger hundreds of thousands of people in the metropolis of Naples.
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