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4 months ago
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Mount Etna has erupted in Sicily, spewing a huge column of gas and ash into the sky above the Italian island.
Footage shared on social media showed people running for their lives down the mountainside of Europe’s largest and most active volcano, as a thick column of smoke intensified above them.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said in a widely reported statement that the volcano was experiencing strong strombolian explosions – a type of eruption – “of growing intensity”.
“Over the past few hours, the falling of a little thin ash has been flagged in the Piano Vetore area,” the statement said. They have since announced that the eruption is over.
According to the Volcanic Discovery website, prior to the eruption there were volcanic tremors which began at around 10pm local time and reached their peak shortly before 1am.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse, one of nine such centres worldwide used to monitor aviation risks, warned that a volcanic ash plume had reached an altitude of around 6,400 metres. They downgraded the threat level to yellow late on Monday afternoon.
What is the government's advice on visiting Sicily?
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not released any new travel advice relating to Mount Etna’s eruption as of Monday morning.
The FCDO’s general advice for volcanic eruptions states that you should follow any guidance and instructions shared with you by local authorities.
“If you are asked to evacuate, do so as soon as possible and take your key documents (for example, passport) and necessary supplies (for example, medication) with you,” the FCDO adds.
“If you are not told to evacuate but are in an affected area, you should shelter in place. Close any windows and turn off air conditioning or HVAC systems. Ensure that you have enough basic supplies (including food, necessary medication and bottled water) given power may be affected and water supplies may be contaminated. If you cannot get basic supplies to shelter in place, you may need to evacuate.
“If you go outside, cover your skin and wear a mask or other face covering, as volcanic ash could irritate your skin and airways.”
Alex Croft3 June 2025 08:47
What is pyroclastic flow?
When Mount Etna erupted, huge plume of pyroclastic flow ejected explosively form the Sicilian volcano.
But what is pyroclastic flow?
The extremely dangerous mass of volcanic rock, ash and hot gases surges from a volcanoes crater at a speed of hundreds of kilometres per hour.
“Pyroclastic flows (dense mixes of gas ash and volcanic particles) are very dangerous because of the high speed in which they move and the high temperature,” said Dr Carmen Solana, Volcanology professor at the University of Portsmouth.
“Of course inhaling the particles can be harming too, especially if hot.”
National Geographic says the flow is “extremely hot, burning anything in its path”.
Alex Croft3 June 2025 08:16
Is there a safe way to visit an erupting volcano?
Volcanologist Dougal Jerram said people can visit erupting volcanoes - but obviously with safety top of mind.
“A lot of it's down to being able to understand what the risks are, and what the sort of limits are,” he told The Independent.
At Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, tourists are generally permitted to go as far as the Valley of the Lion, Prof Jerram said.
“I gives you enough of a distance that even when the volcano has one of these explosive phases, you're in a relatively safe distance from it, albeit, quite spectacular,” he said.
He said the best way to visit an active volcano like Mount Etna is with a proper guide.
“The good thing about the mountain guys is they're all linked up with radios,” he said. “They know the terrain, they know the safety aspects.”
Rachel Clun3 June 2025 07:45
Most intense eruption since 2021, expert says
The recent eruption of Mount Etna was the most intense eruption in more than four years, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (NIGV).
NIGV’s Etna Observatory director Stefano Branca told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the eruption caused a “pyroclastic flow”, which is a fast-moving mass of hot ash, lava fragments and hot gas that is explosively ejected from the volcano.
"Since February 2021, such intense volcanic activity hasn't been recorded," Mr Branca said.
Rachel Clun3 June 2025 07:32
Video shows some tourists fleeing volcano, while others ran to take photos
While dozens of tourists ran down Mount Etna as the volcano spewed ash and gas on Monday, others ran up a slope to take pictures of the spectacle.
Video shows people both fleeing from and going towards the plume, although still from a distance.
Volcanologist Professor Dougal Jerram told The Independent said volcano eruptions can be quite spectacular, which attracts visitors.
“It's always a battle to try and make sure people are safe. But also there's a certain element of needing people to be able to see and appreciate the natural phenomenon as well as understand the beauty, but also the risks with such an amazing mountain,” he said.
“While [authorities are] constantly monitoring what's happening, they need to be able to warn people when things are more dangerous. But obviously, once you get to relatively passive eruptions, there is a potential for people to sort of almost become volcano tourists.”
Rachel Clun3 June 2025 07:24
‘Mount Etna is erupting, look!’ Tourists flee as volcano spews ash and lava
Tourists fled from the sides of Sicily’s Mount Etna on Monday after it erupted, sending dense clouds of ash and gas miles into the sky.
Dozens of people were seen scrambling down Europe’s largest active volcano after it was shaken by tremors that were widely felt in surrounding towns and villages.
Billowing clouds were visible from some distance, with images showing the eruption visible from the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, about 45 kilometres away.
Tom Watling3 June 2025 07:00
Mount Etna eruption mapped: How often does Italy’s ‘Lady of the Rings’ volcano erupt?
Mount Etna has erupted, sending a kilometres-high plume of ash into the sky and sending tourists fleeing from the popular World Heritage area.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the eruption began around 3.50am local time (2.50am BST), following volcanic tremors which began around midnight local time.
The institute said eruption activity has continued since then with “increasing intensity” and was currently “almost continuous”.
Tom Watling3 June 2025 06:00
A celebrity volcanologist couple spotlighted in new doc
There is a curious love triangle that sits at the centre of the new documentary “ Fire of Love." It's between a man, a woman and a volcano. Well, all volcanoes really.
Tom Watling3 June 2025 05:00
Drone footage shows eruption of Mount Etna
Tom Watling3 June 2025 04:00
‘Mount Etna is erupting, look!’ Tourists flee as volcano spews ash and lava
Tourists fled from the sides of Sicily’s Mount Etna on Monday after it erupted, sending dense clouds of ash and gas miles into the sky.
Dozens of people were seen scrambling down Europe’s largest active volcano after it was shaken by tremors that were widely felt in surrounding towns and villages.
Billowing clouds were visible from some distance, with images showing the eruption visible from the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, about 45 kilometres away.
Tom Watling3 June 2025 03:00
