Latest news with #Strombolian
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Mount Etna erupts mid-tourist season! Are flights safe for Italy? Can you claim compensation for cancelled flights?
On June 2, 2025, Italy's iconic Mount Etna erupted violently, sending a towering plume of volcanic ash into the sky and prompting immediate emergency measures across eastern Sicily. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The sudden eruption not only startled tourists but also caused widespread panic and significant disruption to the region's thriving tourism industry. Popular among adventurers, geologists, and vacationers, the region around Mount Etna was hit hardest as volcanic ash blanketed roads, trails, and towns. Though no casualties have been reported, the eruption has raised concerns about travel safety, emergency preparedness, and environmental impact. With seismic tremors still active and the possibility of further eruptions, Italian authorities are urging both residents and tourists to remain cautious. Here's a detailed breakdown of the eruption, the current situation, and its implications for travelers and locals alike. Mount Etna erupts in hours! Ash showers blanket villages According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the eruption began on the evening of June 2, with tremors first recorded around 10 PM local time. Within three hours, Strombolian activity—characterized by periodic explosive bursts of lava—had intensified dramatically. By 1 AM, ash plumes had reached altitudes of 6,400 meters (21,000 feet), visible from miles away. Videos shared on social media showed tourists fleeing from lava trails and ash showers as sirens blared in nearby villages. Streets, parked cars, and restaurant patios were quickly covered in a thick layer of ash. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Emergency services were activated immediately to aid evacuations and close off high-risk areas. Tourist hotspots closed, flights delayed amid Mount Etna eruption The eruption has led to temporary closure of trekking trails, guided tours, and observation platforms around Mount Etna. Popular towns such as Zafferana Etnea, Nicolosi, and Linguaglossa, which serve as gateways to Etna excursions, are experiencing a sharp decline in tourist activity due to ash accumulation and ongoing safety concerns. Hotels in the region have begun receiving cancellations, and tourism boards are working closely with civil protection agencies to redirect visitors to safer parts of Sicily. Despite the eruption, Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (Vincenzo Bellini Airport) remains operational. Outbound flights are largely unaffected, but inbound flights from major cities such as Rome, Milan, and Berlin have faced minor delays and rerouting to avoid the ash cloud. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) initially issued a Code Red aviation warning, which is used for large ash events that could severely impact air traffic. This has since been downgraded to Code Orange, though pilots are still being advised to exercise extreme caution. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines or the airport's official channels before heading out, as the situation can change rapidly depending on wind patterns and volcanic activity. Mount Etna sparks mass evacuations, no casualties reported so far As of the latest reports, there have been no injuries or fatalities. Authorities emphasize that while the eruption is visually dramatic, it currently poses no direct threat to most residential areas. However, tourists in close proximity to the volcano have been evacuated as a precaution. Civil protection services are actively monitoring the volcano using drones, satellites, and ground instruments to detect changes in seismic patterns. Local residents have been advised to stay indoors, especially in areas where ashfall is heaviest, and to wear masks if they must go outside. What is Mount Etna Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily near Catania, is Europe's most active volcano and one of the most monitored in the world. Classified as a stratovolcano, Mount Etna has been erupting for hundreds of thousands of years. It currently stands at approximately 3,329 meters (10,922 feet), though its height fluctuates with each eruption due to accumulated lava and ash. Etna's volcanic activity is not new. It erupts several times a year, but this particular episode has been classified as one of the most intense in recent memory due to the sheer volume of ash and its sudden onset. Its frequent eruptions have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and it remains a major attraction for tourists despite its volatility. Health and safety tips amid volcanic ash Health experts warn that exposure to volcanic ash, particularly PM10 and PM2.5 particles, can lead to respiratory issues, especially among: Children and the elderly Individuals with asthma or lung conditions Pregnant women Those with weakened immune systems Safety recommendations: Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in ash-affected areas Keep windows and doors closed to prevent ash from entering indoor spaces Wear high-quality masks (N95 or equivalent) when outdoors Use air purifiers indoors, if available Drive cautiously, as ash can reduce visibility and make roads slippery Flight delays from volcanoes? Here's what airlines will compensate for Flight disruptions due to volcanic eruptions are considered 'extraordinary circumstances' under most airline policies. This means: Refunds or alternate flights may be offered by airlines for canceled trips Compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 is not guaranteed, as natural disasters are typically excluded Travel insurance may cover additional expenses, depending on the policy and coverage for natural disasters Travelers are advised to contact their airlines directly and review their insurance policies for eligibility. What's next? Ongoing monitoring and risk assessment Volcanologists are keeping a close watch on Mount Etna as seismic activity remains high. There is potential for further eruptions in the coming days, depending on pressure build-up and magma movement. The INGV continues to release hourly bulletins and warnings based on satellite imagery and geophysical data. Local authorities are also planning to deploy additional emergency response units if evacuation zones need to be expanded.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
What caused the massive eruption of italy's Mount Etna
Italy's Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, produced an explosive eruption on Monday morning, sending a huge cloud of ash, smoke and rock fragments several kilometres into the sky. Although the eruption created a spectacular sight, it resulted in no reported injuries or damage and barely even disrupted flights in the region. Mount Etna, sometimes referred to simply as Etna, is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, lying just off the toe of the Italian 'boot'. Etna's peak is the highest in Italy south of the Alps, and it is the largest of Europe's active volcanoes. Etna's summit has five craters, which are responsible for most of the volcano's eruptions. 'Flank' eruptions also occur at the 300-odd vents of varying sizes along the slopes of the mountain. The volcano is in near-constant activity. Since 1600, at least 60 flank eruptions and many more summit eruptions have happened. In recent years, summit eruptions have occurred in 2006, 2007-08, on two occasions in 2012, in 2018, and 2021; flank eruptions have taken place in 2001, 2002-03, 2004-05, and 2008-09. Etna has been a World Heritage Site since 2013, and according to UNESCO, the volcano's eruptive history can be traced back 500,000 years. At least 2,700 years of this activity have been documented. Experts suggest that the eruption began with an increase in pressure inside the volcano due to expanding gases, which led to the collapse of the southeast crater, resulting in hot lava flows. According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna Observatory, the volcano was witnessing a 'Strombolian' eruption. This type of eruption is usually characterised as discreet moderately explosive bursts which can eject chunks of rock and cinders that can travel hundreds of metres into the air. It occurs due to the presence of gas in the magma chamber within the volcano. 'When the gas bubbles reach the surface, they can burst suddenly, throwing material skywards. The process is not dissimilar to letting gas out of a fizzy drink,' according to a report by the BBC. The Strombolian eruption is named after another Italian volcano called Stromboli, which produces minor eruptions every 10 to 20 minutes. However, some volcanologists believe that Mount Etna did not experience a Strombolian eruption but rather a Plinian eruption, in which hot gas, ash, and rock can explode high enough to reach the stratosphere. Given that the Monday eruption produced by Mount Etna threw material several kilometres into the sky, this set of volcanologists say it was a Plinian eruption. Scientists typically classify eruptions based on how explosive they are. More explosive eruptions tend to be more dangerous, as they can cover a larger area and move faster.
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
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mount Etna spews out fountain of lava
Mount Etna, the volcano on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily, has erupted again. Europe's largest active volcano has been spewing glowing lava and ash since the early hours of Monday morning. The Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that a pyroclastic flow was observed - a kind of fiery avalanche of ash, gas and rock, triggered by a collapse on the north side of the south-east crater. According to initial findings, the hot material remained within the remote and uninhabited Valle del Leone. As a precaution, the aviation warning level was raised to red. However, Catania International Airport remains open for the time being. The INGV said the activity had intensified into a lava fountain – an eruptive phase in which liquid lava is ejected from the crater. The institute reported an increase in earth tremors, and ground deformations in the crater area were also recorded. Mount Etna, which is approximately 3,350 metres high, erupts several times a year and is constantly monitored by experts. These so-called Strombolian eruptions are usually a spectacular sight and attract many spectators.
Economic Times
02-06-2025
- Economic Times
Italy's Mount Etna volcano erupts, triggering aviation alert as tourists flee for their lives — 10 key points
Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted early Monday morning, causing widespread panic as ash clouds filled the sky. Strombolian explosions intensified, sending ash falling on tourist areas. While monitored, the eruption remains unpredictable, prompting aviation alerts and highlighting the ongoing hazard. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 1. Sudden Early Morning Eruption 2. Individuals Witnessed Evacuating the Region 3. Ash Cloud Towers Above Sicily 4. Strombolian Explosions Increase Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 5. Ash Falls on Popular Tourist Spots 6. Thermal Images Show Hazardous Flows 7. High Volcanic Tremors Detected 8. Did Not Cross Valley of the Lion Monitored 9. Aviation Alert Issued 10. Volcano Remains Unpredictable FAQs Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, located in Sicily, erupted early Monday morning, with people running for their lives because of dense volcanic ash clouds , as per a report. Here are the important details, as per Yahoo News:The eruption started early in the morning on Monday, with Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) notifying about the volcanic activity in a statement issued at 4.14 am local time that has "carried on with Strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous," according to Yahoo posted on various social media platforms showed scenes of people fleeing to safety after Europe's highest active volcano started erupting, as per the report.A huge cloud of volcanic ash rose into the atmosphere, INGV said, "Over the past few hours, the falling of a little thin ash has been flagged in the," as per Yahoo News. According to INGV's forecast model, the expected erupting ash cloud is to scatter in a south-west direction, reported Yahoo eruption was accompanied by repeated and more vigorous Strombolian explosions — volcanic activity that involves repeated bursts of lava, ash, and gas, as per the ash falls were reported over the northern Piano Vetore region, an area frequently visited by tourists trekking or sightseeing close to the sides of Etna, according to Yahoo images released by the INGV displayed "hot pyroclastic material" — hot flows of rock, ash, and gas — descending the volcano's slopes, reported Yahoo had warned that the "values of the magnitude of the tremor are currently elevated with a tendency to increase further," reported Yahoo per a statement isuued at 11.55am local time, the INGV mentioned that the volcanic flow did "not appear to have crossed the edge" of the Valley of the Lion, surrounding the volcano, reported Yahoo of the expanding ash cloud, aviation authorities were put on notice, with possible disruption of air travel in the area the authorities keep the situation under strict observation, the high tremor levels and ongoing explosions indicate that Etna's eruption remains hazardous and Etna erupted early Monday morning, shooting ash into the sky and triggering panic among people videos showed tourists and locals running for their lives as the volcano erupted.
