On Monday, Mount Etna in Sicily put on an impressive and fiery display. The volcano sent a thick cloud of smoke and ash several kilometers (or miles) high into the sky.
However, officials quickly reassured the members of the public that there was no threat to anyone living nearby.
As a result of the eruption, authorities raised the alert level at Catania airport, which is the closest major airport to the volcano.
But even though the alert level went up, flights continued normally, and there were no immediate delays or disruptions reported.
Later in the afternoon, officials gave another update. They said that the ash cloud had stopped rising, and the situation was calmer.
Reasons for Eruption
According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the eruption happened because a part of the southeast crater collapsed.
This sudden change inside the crater led to the release of hot lava that flowed down the side of the volcano.
Interestingly, this eruption marked the 14th eruptive phase in just a few months, showing that Mount Etna has been quite active lately.
Even though the eruption looked dramatic, the danger was limited to the summit area. To be safe, officials closed that part of the volcano to tourists.
Therefore, Stefano Branca, a scientist from INGV in Catania, said that closing the summit was just a precaution.
Meanwhile, Sicily’s regional president, Renato Schifani, also spoke about the situation. He explained that the lava did not go beyond the natural boundaries of the volcano, so there was no real danger to people or homes.
The eruption quickly caught people’s attention, especially online. Videos and photos of the eruption spread fast on social media, showing the bright lava, dark smoke, and ash-filled sky.
Many of these images went viral on social media, as people were fascinated by the power and beauty of the volcano.
According to local news, tremors from the eruption were felt in many towns and villages around Mount Etna. Some people reported the ground shaking slightly as the volcano rumbled.
One video showed a group of tourists running along a path on the side of the volcano, while smoke rose in the background.
Mount Etna
This is not surprising because Mount Etna is a popular spot for excursions and guided tours. Standing about 3,300 meters high (almost 11,000 feet), and covering around 1,200 square kilometers (about 460 square miles), Etna is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe.
Even though the eruption was dramatic and powerful, no one was harmed, and the eruption stayed within safe limits. Thanks to fast action from scientists and local authorities, everything remained under control.
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