Latest news with #Schifani
The Sun
03-06-2025
- The Sun
Italy's Mount Etna erupts, spewing ash, gas and rock
ROME: A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth on Monday from Italy's Mount Etna as authorities warned people to steer clear of Europe's largest active volcano. Sicily's Mount Etna has been active recently but Monday's eruption was the most dramatic, with experts warning that such activity could continue for weeks. Images showed a massive grey cloud billowing from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning at 11:24 am local time (0924 GMT), 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 -- which is extremely dangerous -- occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gasses surge from volcanos. The explosive activity 'had transitioned to a lava fountain', INGV said, describing jets of lava being sprayed into the air. By early afternoon, the plume had begun to dissipate. An initial red alert that INGV issued for aviation authorities -- which estimated the height of the volcanic cloud at 6.5 kilometres (more than four miles) -- was downgraded to orange, then yellow. Sicily's nearby Catania Airport remained open Monday. By mid-afternoon, INGV said the eruption had stopped, with 'no ash cloud produced'. 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 Lion, 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. Persistent activity The intensity of the volcano seen on Monday 'is one of the signs of the continuous dynamism of Etna', the president of the Italian Association of Volcanology, Marco Viccaro, told Corriere della Sera daily. 'The paroxysm that began last night and has continued to grow in intensity, falls within the dynamics of a volcano in persistent activity,' he said, noting that Etna had been active for 'several weeks'. That phase has been marked by 'short-duration episodes, with intense energy' but less than those seen between 2020 and 2022, he said. 'This is strombolian activity that is relatively mild in the early stages and then rapidly intensifies until it produces explosions that are fairly energetic in frequency,' he added. The volcano was in a 'recharge phase' in which magma, usually much deeper within the earth, was now closer to the surface. How much of that magma had risen would determine how long the activity would continue, said Viccaro. 'The evolution depends on the volumes of magma that have entered the upper part of the feeding system,' he said. The activity, he added, 'could evolve over weeks, if not months, with similar episodes to those we have witnessed.'
eNCA
02-06-2025
- eNCA
Italy's Mount Etna erupts, spewing ash, gas and rock
CATANIA - A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth on Monday from Italy's Mount Etna as authorities warned people to steer clear of Europe's largest active volcano. Sicily's Mount Etna has been active recently but Monday's eruption was the most dramatic, with experts warning that such activity could continue for weeks. Images showed a massive grey cloud billowing from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning at 11:24 am local time (0924 GMT), 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 -- which is extremely dangerous -- occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gasses surge from volcanos. The explosive activity "had transitioned to a lava fountain", INGV said, describing jets of lava being sprayed into the air. By early afternoon, the plume had begun to dissipate. An initial red alert that INGV issued for aviation authorities -- which estimated the height of the volcanic cloud at 6.5 kilometres -- was downgraded to orange, then yellow. Sicily's nearby Catania Airport remained open Monday. By mid-afternoon, INGV said the eruption had stopped, with "no ash cloud produced". 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 Lion, 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. - Persistent activity - The intensity of the volcano seen on Monday "is one of the signs of the continuous dynamism of Etna", the president of the Italian Association of Volcanology, Marco Viccaro, told Corriere della Sera daily. AFP | Giuseppe Distefano "The paroxysm that began last night and has continued to grow in intensity, falls within the dynamics of a volcano in persistent activity," he said, noting that Etna had been active for "several weeks". That phase has been marked by "short-duration episodes, with intense energy" but less than those seen between 2020 and 2022, he said. "This is strombolian activity that is relatively mild in the early stages and then rapidly intensifies until it produces explosions that are fairly energetic in frequency," he added. The volcano was in a "recharge phase" in which magma, usually much deeper within the earth, was now closer to the surface. How much of that magma had risen would determine how long the activity would continue, said Viccaro. "The evolution depends on the volumes of magma that have entered the upper part of the feeding system," he said.
Gulf Today
02-06-2025
- Gulf Today
Italy's Mount Etna volcano erupts, sending tourists into panic
Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted early morning on June 2 in a dramatic display of volcanic force that sent plumes of ash into the Sicilian sky and tourists fleeing the site in panic. The eruption began overnight and intensified into what scientists described as a Strombolian event — characterised by explosive bursts of lava and ash. Images showed a massive grey cloud billowing forth from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning about 11:24 am local time (0924 GMT), 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 kilometers 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 6.5 kilometres (more than four miles). The nearby Catania airport was still in operation. Agencies
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Mount Etna erupts; tourists seen fleeing down volcano slopes
ROME: A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth Monday 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 (0924 GMT), 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 6.5 kilometres (more than four miles). The nearby Catania airport was still in operation.--AFP
Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Straits Times
Massive plume of ash, gas spews from Italy's Mount Etna
Smoke rises from the crater of the Etna volcano as it erupts on Mount Etna, near Catania on June 2. PHOTO: AFP ROME - A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth June 2 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 (5.24pm in Singapore), 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 South-east 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 south-west. 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 South-east Crater, which generated an impressive eruptive cloud several kilometers high and a pyroclastic flow, is a phenomenon that we follow with extreme caution,' Mr 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. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
