Latest news with #seismologists
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Mount Etna erupts, sending tourists fleeing to safety
Huge clouds of ash more than a mile high have erupted from Mount Etna, triggered by an avalanche of boiling rock hurtling down the side of the volcano. Terrified tourists visiting the Italian volcano were forced to run for their lives after a ginormous ash cloud erupted behind them. Despite horror-struck crowds were seen fleeing, some keen seismologists were stopping on the way down the gravelly slopes to turn back and snap a quick pic of the monstrous clouds. Residents in nearby towns and cities could see the dramatic cloud begin to dominate the skyline, with ash beginning to settle on buildings and roads. In one video, the shocking formation begins to blot out the sun. Tourists are able to visit the 3,300m-high Mount Etna in guided tours or access certain areas independently. A red aviation warning was briefly issued by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse but has now turned to orange. The pyroclastic flow - an avalanche of burning ash careening down the slopes at a fast-pace and high-density - does not appear to have passed the edge of the Valley of the Lion, one of Etna's slopes. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etnean Observatory, said the pyroclastic flow was 'probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the South-East Crater'. A 'lava fountain' has also begun after the ash bomb, according to the institute. The ominous ash cloud is said to mainly consist of water and sulfur dioxide and was 'drifting towards the south west'. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said earlier this morning: 'Over the past few hours, the activity flagged in the previous statement issued at 4.14am (3.14am BST) has carried on with strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous. Over the past few hours, the falling of a little thin ash has been flagged in the Piano Vetore area.' The terrifying volcanic tremor began just after 10pm last night, reaching its peak three hours later at about 2.8km below the crater. A livestream of the volcano captured the terrifying moment and users can watch the cloud descend over the island. Activity has calmed in the last hour but the threatening grey cloud is still visible. Mount Etna, located on the eastern coast of Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes worldwide and has been going through an especially active period for the last five years. Last summer, the volcano caused chaos at nearby airports as they were forced to limit and divert flights as pilots struggled with visibility. A usually busy Catania airport had to send flights to other airports on the island, such as Palermo and Comiso. Arriving flights were reduced to six per hour and one section of the airport was closed, while local towns were also covered in a blanket of black ash. The 500,000-year-old volcano has been spewing lava during repeated outbursts in May before today's explosion. Etna's most destructive eruption covered 14 villages and towns in lava flows and earthquakes from the volcano. The eruption, which lasted several weeks, killed nearly 20,000 people, with thousands more made homeless, according to records from 1669.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Crete? What you need to know after earthquake sparks tsunami warning for Greek island
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Crete on Thursday morning, as the tremors were felt across the Greek island and the Aegean Sea region. Authorities have not reported any serious injuries or structural damage, aside from some minor landslides and debris, especially near Crete's capital, Heraklion. While independent seismologists issued tsunami warnings, Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation says that tsunamis are unlikely due to its location out at sea and depth. The island of Crete is known as one of Europe's most common zones for earthquakes. This recent tremor comes only a week after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck off the eastern coast of Crete, which was felt as far away as Egypt. The island is a beloved destination for tourists, many of whom would have started flocking to the Greek island as the summer season begins. It is a popular holiday location due to its pristine beaches, thriving resort scene, rich history and unique natural landscapes often explored on hikes and trails. One such popular hiking trail, Imbros Gorge in Sfakia, has been temporarily closed for visitor safety after the earthquake hit. Here is what we know about the earthquake so far. Is it safe to travel to Crete, Greece? The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), an independent science organisation, issued a warning of potential tsunami activity, stating 15 minutes after the earthquake that people should 'move away from the coast and reach a higher place. Follow national authorities' directives.' 'Aftershocks may occur in the next hours/days. Unless it is necessary, stay away from damaged areas for your safety. Be careful and follow national authorities' information,' the organisation added. The Greek fire brigade said in a press release that all civil protection forces were immediately mobilised, but so far the fire department has not received any calls for help, but has been placed on high alert. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently does not have any travel advice regarding Crete or Greece as a whole, meaning it should be safe to travel to the country and its islands. Some minor landslides and debris were observed, especially near Heraklion, but authorities have not reported any serious injuries or structural damage. Regional government official Giorgos Tsapakos told state-run television that 'there are no reports of injuries or any serious damage' following initial examinations of the areas affected by the earthquake. Where was the earthquake? The earthquake struck north of the Greek island of Crete at 6.19am local time on Thursday 22 May. The quake struck roughly 60 kilometres north-east off the Greek island, with various geoscientific surveys reporting its depth from between 37 and 87 kilometres deep. Shaking was felt over 700km by approximately 13 million people in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon, the EMSC stated. Residents in eastern Crete reported on the EMSC website that they felt the tremor, including some saying they woke up as their beds started to shake, but no evacuations were ordered. Is a tsunami likely? Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, said the earthquake's location at sea and its significant depth have made a tsunami unlikely. According to the Greek daily Ta Nea, Mr Lekkas explained that the earthquake occurred at a significant depth, making it less likely to cause severe surface damage. He said the earthquake struck at the junction of the African and European tectonic plates. Vasilis Karastathis, the director of the Geodynamic Institute, also told OPEN television: 'We were expecting a revised solution to come out, it is 60 kilometres deep and does not pose a danger at such a depth and so many kilometres away from Lasithi and the coast.' 'There is no problem. We will also look at the aftershock sequence, but I do not think it will be intense. With these characteristics of the earthquake, we do not expect any aftershock sequence. There is no need to be concerned,' he said. 'When it is large, the depth opens up the distance, which is why it was felt in Attica and was quite large,' he added. Are other Greek Islands at risk? None of the islands, the mainland, or other countries have reported injuries or serious property damage as of Thursday morning. It has not been unheard of in the past for earthquakes to affect the country, which is prone to seismic activity. Just last week, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck off the eastern coast of Crete, hitting near the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, smaller islands near Crete's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, at a depth of 35km. Unprecedented levels of activity also shook the popular tourist island of Santorini for weeks earlier this year. The island of Crete is known as one of Europe's most common zones for earthquakes. In October 2021, a 6.3 magnitude quake shook the island just weeks after a deadly tremor killed one person and injured dozens. Greece sits at the line between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, so it is common for seismic activity to be felt there. Greece has thousands of islands, with about 227 of them inhabited, the largest of which is Crete by population and area. The islands are traditionally grouped in different clusters, such as the Argo-Saronic Islands, the Cyclades, the North Aegean Islands, the Dodecanese, the Sporades and the Ionian Islands. Heraklion International Airport on Crete also has no cancellations or disruptions to its flight schedule, data from FlightRadar shows. Chania International Airport, also on the island, has not seen any significant disruptions to its flights. Can I cancel my holiday? As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Greece, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes. In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Earthquake Rocks Parts of Tennessee and Georgia
Residents in Tennessee and Georgia were jolted on Saturday morning by an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake had its epicenter just outside of Greenback, Tenn., a town of about 1,000 people, but it was felt as far away as Atlanta. The last time a strong earthquake was felt in the region was 2018, when a 4.4 magnitude tremor rattled houses but caused little damage. As seismologists review available data, they may revise the reported magnitude of Saturday's earthquake. The area, known as the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, extends across Tennessee into northwestern Georgia and northeastern Alabama. Minor earthquakes occur annually, but the zone is not known to have major tremors. This is a developing story.
