Latest news with #VolcanicAshAdvisoryCentreToulouse
Time Out
7 days ago
- Climate
- Time Out
Is it safe to travel to Sicily? Latest advice following Mount Etna eruption
On Monday June 2, Sicily 's Mount Etna erupted, spewing plumes of ash and lava into the air and sending hikers running for their lives. The volcano, on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily, is the most active in Europe. While ash emissions and eruptions are a common occurrence at Mount Etna, this is its most powerful blast in four years, according to experts. So, is it safe to travel right now? What should you do if you have a trip booked? Here's all the latest travel advice. What's the latest with the Mount Etna eruption? The eruption began at around 3.50am local time, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, with volcanic activity intensifying throughout the morning. A huge cloud of smoke was seen billowing above the town of Catania, and video footage shows tourists fleeing the eruption down the mountain. The eruption lasted around 10 hours, ending at approximately 4.56pm local time on Monday June 2. Is it safe to travel to Sicily? Yes, at the time of writing, it is safe to travel to Sicily. No injuries or casualties have been reported, and as of Tuesday June 3, the eruption has ended. Are flights to Sicily affected by the Mount Etna eruption? A red aviation warning was initially issued by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse, but has since been downgraded to orange. A handful of flights were delayed or diverted from nearby Catania Airport on Monday, but flights are currently travelling to and from Sicily as normal. When was the last time Mount Etna erupted? As Europe's most active volcano, strombolian activity, ash emissions and eruptions are a regular occurrence at Mount Etna. The last large eruption was in August 2024, when a volcanic ash cloud caused Catania Airport to close.
NDTV
02-06-2025
- NDTV
Watch: Italy's Mount Etna Volcano Erupts With Ash And Lava, Sends Tourists Running For Safety
Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted on June 2, sending ash plumes into the sky and sparking panic among tourists. Dramatic footage showed people fleeing down the mountainside as huge smoke columns intensified above them. The eruption filled the Sicilian sky with smoke, with the famous landmark spewing ash and forcing visitors to scramble to safety. There was no immediate report of any risk to the local population, as per CBS News. Officials are continuing to monitor the situation and have urged the public to remain cautious as volcanic activity continues. Watch the pictures and videos here: CLIMATE CHANGE - Mount Etna's just coughed up more carbon and sulfur in 24 hours than a year of British farming… But don't worry, pay more tax to subsidise global corporations and that will definitely save the planet 🤡 — Bernie (@Artemisfornow) June 2, 2025 Parents sent me this from Sicily - Mount Etna erupting — Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) June 2, 2025 🚨 A stunning explosion from Mount Etna this morning caught everyone by surprise Sicilia, Italy 🇮🇹 — Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) June 2, 2025 The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse issued a "code red" alert as Mount Etna's eruption sent ash falling over the tourist area. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said 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. As per the Volcanic Discovery website, volcanic tremors started around 10 PM local time, peaking just before 1 AM. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre reported a volcanic ash plume reaching approximately 6,400 meters. By noon, INGV Vulcani announced on social media that the Southeast Crater's explosive activity had escalated into a lava fountain, with infrared images showing lava flowing down the mountain. Mount Etna is Europe's most active volcano and the world's most active stratovolcano. A stratovolcano, the classic conical shape with a central crater, is formed by layers of lava from repeated eruptions over thousands of years – the iconic image many have when thinking of a volcano. It previously erupted on February 11, spewing hot ash and lava from the 3,400m volcano.
