Etna breaks out again: kilometer -high smoke cloud over Sicily!

Etna breaks out again: kilometer -high smoke cloud over Sicily!

Ätna, Italien - On June 2, 2025, a cloud of smoke in Sicily was observed above Etna on Sicily, which was caused by a strong lava flow. This lava flow is probably the result of a collapse of parts of the volcano southeast crater. However, the eruption activity of the Etna has no impact on the operation of the international airport "Vincenzo Bellini" in Catania, such as reported.

The Etna is known to be Europe's largest active volcano, the amount of which varies continuously from around 3,350 meters. For geologists and volcanologists, the Etna is of great interest due to its eruptive history of more than 500,000 years, which includes both effective and electricity -Bolian eruptions. The last eruptions last took place in December 2018, and the current activity status is classified as an active, with an alarm level of "Basic", according to the information from Ingv.it .

geological characteristics and meaning

The Etna extends over an area of ​​around 1,250 square kilometers and is a stratov sheet that was shaped under the Eurasian plate by the subduction of the African plate. These geological activities ensure a complex structure with steep slopes, several summit craters as well as lava flows and pyroclastic bowling. Particularly noteworthy are the dangers that emerge from the side and eccentric eruptions that threaten important settlements on the slopes of the volcano. Current deformations on the eastern flank of the Etna achieve annual movement rates of 2 to 4 cm, which underlines the instability of this area, as Geologyscience.com

The explosive and effective eruptions of the Etna are not only of scientific interest, but also have significant effects on the local population and agriculture. Vulcan floors are extremely fertile and support the cultivation of wine, fruit and other crops. However, eruptions can also cause considerable damage to the harvests and endanger the infrastructure of the adjacent cities.

historical eruptions and their effects

The Etna has a long history of documented outbursts. Historical eruptions, such as the devastating events from 1669, 1928 and 2002-2003, have shown how dangerous the volcano can be. Lava flows have reached cities in the past and led to evacuation plans necessary. In the past few decades, further activities have occurred that disrupted air traffic through ash clouds and challenged the regional economy. Nevertheless, the volcano also attracts tourists and is an important goal for research.