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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Massive plume of ash, gas spews from Italy's Mount Etna
Surveillance cameras showed a pyroclastic flow from the northern flank of the southeast crater. (AP pic) ROME : A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth today from Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, but authorities said there was no current danger to the population. Images showed a massive grey cloud billowing forth from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning about 11.24am local time, according to the national institute of geophysics and volcanology (INGV). Surveillance cameras showed 'a pyroclastic flow probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the southeast crater', the agency said. A pyroclastic flow occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gasses surge from volcanos. They are extremely dangerous. The explosive activity 'had transitioned to a lava fountain', INGV said, with the plume of ash expected to dissipate towards the southwest. The president of the region of Sicily, Renato Schifani, said experts had assured him there was 'no danger for the population', with the flow not having passed the Valley of the Lions, an area frequented by tourists. Videos posted on social media appeared to show tourists hurrying down the side of the volcano, some taking photos, but AFP could not determine their authenticity. 'The partial collapse of the Southeast Crater, which generated an impressive eruptive cloud several kilometres high and a pyroclastic flow, is a phenomenon that we follow with extreme caution,' Schifani said. The head of the regional civil protection unit, Salvo Cocina, recommended that tourists avoid the area 'in consideration of the potential evolution of the phenomenon'. A red alert issued for aviation authorities said the height of the volcanic cloud was estimated at 6.5km. The nearby Catania airport was still in operation.
Local Italy
3 days ago
- Climate
- Local Italy
Is it safe to travel to Sicily after Mount Etna eruption?
Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted in a dramatic display in the early hours of Monday morning. Footage shared widely on social media showed panicked visitors fleeing down one side of the volcano as a huge plume of smoke and ash billowed above them. No injuries were reported. Flights to and from Catania's Vincenzo Bellini Airport were unaffected, though Sicily's aviation authorities issued an orange alert on Monday urging pilots to exercise caution when flying near the area. As of Monday evening, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) announced that the volcanic activity had finished. But does that mean it's safe to visit? Warning system The first thing to keep in mind is that Etna's eruptions are nothing new: the first recorded volcanic activity dates all the way back to 1,500 BC. The volcano has erupted regularly in recent years, with the most recent notable eruption happening in February of this year. Despite these flare-ups, Etna continues to be a popular destination for tourists, and authorities are well-equipped to deal with eruptions. The last time an eruption resulted in the loss of human life was 1987, when a woman and her seven-year-old son were caught in a sudden explosion while walking near the volcano's summit with their tour group. Sicily's President Renato Schifani on Monday said experts had assured him that there was "no danger for the population". However, local authorities will continue to monitor the situation "with extreme caution," he added. "Everything's under control," Catania Mayor Enrico Tarantino said, adding that the eruption "was expected, and access to the summit had already been restricted." Stefano Branca, director of the INGV's Etna Observatory, also told reporters that the "summit area had already been closed preventively and the entire warning system worked". He was referring to the Civil Protection Department's colour-coded tiered alert system, under which red represents the highest threat level and green the lowest. Each level triggers different public safety measures, with a red code requiring mandatory evacuations and major access restrictions, and a yellow code meaning people in the vicinity should keep checking for updates and be prepared. As of Tuesday, the Civil Protection Department's Etna alert level was at a yellow. Tourists seeking photo opportunities and thrills have in the past defied local ordinances blocking access to certain areas and ignored officials directing traffic and hikers away from danger zones. It's a given that if you don't follow the rules, you may be putting yourself in danger. How are flights affected by volcanic activity? Airport closures due to volcanic activity are not uncommon in Sicily. Catania's airport, Sicily's busiest airport, is frequently forced to halt or reduce flights due to clouds of ash in its airspace. During the last series of eruptions in February, it was forced to divert dozens of flights. Given that Catania's airport is closest to the 'epicentre' of volcanic activity, it is far more likely to be affected by closures than others in the region. Flights to the airport are usually diverted to Palermo's Falcone-Borsellino airport (a four-hour drive away) or Trapani's Vincenzo Florio in the event of closures. But it is not just air transportation that can be disrupted by the effects of a volcano. Ground transportation services (trains and buses) can be halted temporarily due to poor visibility from ashfall, especially when coupled with rainfall, which can cause slippery conditions on the roads near the volcano. Worsening air quality is also a risk for individuals with chronic breathing issues such as asthma or COPD. During periods of ashfall, officials advise limiting exposure, at least until the air has cleared. If you are planning to travel to affected areas of the island, you can find up-to-the-minute alerts on volcanic activity from the INGV here.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Huge eruption on Italy's Mount Etna leaves tourists fleeing volcano
A massive eruption at Mount Etna forced tourists to flee the volcano on Monday after a plume of high temperature gases, ash and rock 'several kilometers high' billowed into the air above them, Italian authorities said. Footage posted on social media shows long lines of people hurrying downhill away from the explosion while the owner of one tour company told CNN they had 40 people on the Sicilian volcano when it erupted. Giuseppe Panfallo, a guide with Go Etna, filmed his tour group huddled together with an enormous ash cloud in the distance. 'We were nearly grazed, look at this cloud here. We were two steps away and thank goodness we have a responsible guide with us,' he says in the video shared with CNN. 'It arrived all at once, an immense smoke, immense, immense roar.' About a dozen tour operators work on Etna at any given time, the Sicilian Civil Protection Agency told CNN. All tourists and trekkers on the volcano when it erupted have been evacuated safely, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory. The eruption petered out late evening local time, the observatory said, adding that all three lava flows 'are now cooling.' Sporadic bursts of ash dispersed near the summit of the volcano, with the tremor having fallen 'to low values,' the observatory reported. The volcano on the Italian island is a popular tourist destination visited by 1.5 million people a year, many of whom trek almost all the way to its summit. Although Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes, there hasn't been an eruption of this magnitude since 2014, according to the observatory. These eruptions often stop as quickly as they start, the observatory added, though explosions are still increasing in intensity and the mountain is spewing out a very small amount of lava and fire. At the moment, there is 'no danger for the population,' said the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, as he thanked local emergency crews 'for the immediate activation of monitoring and safety protocols.' He recommended 'maximum precaution for hikers' to 'avoid the summit area of the volcano until further notice, in consideration of the potential evolution of the phenomenon.' The eruption, which began overnight, produced explosions heard as far away as Taormina and Catania, which are about 50 kilometers and 40 kilometers (31 miles and 25 miles) away, respectively, according to several people who posted footage on social media. One eyewitness told CNN the eruption on Monday was characterized by a 'sudden, powerful boom.' 'Today's eruption seemed, at first, similar to others — but what made it stand out was a sudden, powerful boom,' said hiking guide Alessio Zocco, 33, who works on the volcano. 'It was a dramatic moment, but fortunately short-lived. 'Mount Etna is a majestic and unpredictable force of nature. It commands respect, but it also offers one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring experiences you can witness,' added Zocco. 'With knowledge, preparation, and humility, it's possible to explore this landscape safely and meaningfully.' The observatory said that the preliminary observations show a 'partial collapse' of the northern flank of the volcano's southeast crater, which has produced spectacular lava flows during recent eruptions in the last few months. None of the ash is expected to fall on Catania, the city at the foot of the volcano, though authorities are prepared to alert people to take cover if the wind changes, the city's mayor Enrico Tarantino told CNN. Nearby airports in Catania and Palermo remain open too as, currently, the wind is not blowing the ash in that direction. The Sicilian Civil Protection Agency instructed all flight travel to avoid the area and some flights from Catania have been directed to Palermo, according to Flight Radar Data. Authorities have closed many of the roads heading up to the volcano to prevent people trying to get close to the eruption and from getting in the way of first responders and emergency vehicles, Tarantino added. Around 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), the volcano started spewing hot lava, which is more in line with previous eruptions, an observatory spokesman said. The observatory previously defined the volcanic activity as a pyroclastic eruption, resulting in a 'significant increase in volcanic tremor and the formation of an eruptive column containing a lethal mixture of high-temperature gases, lava grains, volcanic ash, and rock fragments of various sizes that rapidly descends down the slopes of the volcano.' This story has been updated. CNN's Sana Noor Haq and Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tourists run for cover as Italy's Mount Etna erupts in fiery show of smoke and ash
Milan: Sicily's Mount Etna has put on a fiery show, sending a cloud of smoke and ash several kilometres into the air, but officials said the activity posed no danger to the population. The level of alert due to the volcanic activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. An official update on Monday (Tuesday AEST) declared the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. Italy's INGV National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the spectacle on Europe's most active volcano was caused when part of the south-east crater collapsed, resulting in hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase in recent months. The area of danger was confined to the summit of Etna, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Sicily's President, Renato Schifani, said lava flows emitted in the eruption had not passed the natural containment area 'and posed no danger to the population'. The event was captured on video and in photos that went viral on social media. Tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna's flanks, Italian media reported. Video showed tourists running along a path on the flank of the vast volcano with smoke billowing some distance in the background. Excursions are popular on Etna, which is some 3300 metres high, with a surface area of some 1200 square kilometres. One student, from Trinity College in Dublin, told Irish broadcaster RTE News that her group had just arrived when the volcano erupted, London's Telegraph reported, prompting their tour guides to yell at them to get back in the minibus.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Mount Etna eruption: Watch viral videos capturing moment of panic as tourists try to escape falling ash from volcano
Italy's Mount Etna erupted violently on Monday, sending ash, gas, and rocks high into the sky while lava flowed down its slopes. Tourists near the summit were seen running for safety as loud explosions echoed up to 50 km away, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory. The eruption, which began overnight, is said to be the most powerful since 2014. Tourists escape unhurt as panic spreads Viral videos on Twitter showed tourists running downhill in panic as the volcano spewed ash and rock fragments into the air. In several clips, thick clouds of dark ash were seen rapidly spreading across the sky while frightened visitors tried to flee. Some were heard shouting as the sound of explosions rumbled in the background. A local tour company confirmed that about 40 visitors were near the southeast crater at the time of the eruption. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo — RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) 'Mt Etna erupting during our tour – all safe but it was scary!' wrote one tourist on X (formerly Twitter), posting footage of the eruption in real time. No injuries or casualties have been reported. Live Events MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Eruption caused partial crater collapse The eruption has been classified as a pyroclastic event. Reports said a part of the northern flank of the southeast crater collapsed, releasing fast-moving gases, volcanic ash, and rock fragments down the slopes. Authorities said the lava remained within natural containment areas, and no evacuations were needed. — EdgeE50124 (@EdgeE50124) Authorities respond, airports affected Sicily's regional president, Renato Schifani, said emergency plans were in place. 'There is no immediate threat to residents, and emergency protocols remain in place,' he said. — BritFirst (@BritFirst) The Sicilian Civil Protection Agency issued a Volcanic Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA), asking aircraft to avoid the affected zone. Airports in Catania and Palermo continued operations, though some flights were delayed or diverted for safety. Volcano remains under observation Mount Etna, located on Sicily's eastern coast, is one of the world's most studied volcanoes and Europe's most active stratovolcano. It draws over 1.5 million tourists every year. Experts said the volcano had shown increased seismic activity and gas emissions in recent weeks. Volcanologists continue to monitor it for further signs of activity. Authorities have advised tourists not to hike near the summit until further notice.
