Etna awakens: Dramatic lava flow and tremors rock sicily
On Monday, the first eruption of Etna this week occurred in Italy. In the following days, lava began to flow from the Bocca Nuova crater.
This week, Etna is very active. Geologists from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania reported that during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, lava began to flow from the crater named Bocca Nuova. Several tremors were also recorded, some with magnitudes reaching 3.7.
Italian media added that by Wednesday, the "river of lava" was already about three kilometres long.
Scientists observed that huge amounts of volcanic dust began to emerge from inside the volcano. A gigantic, dark ash cloud could be seen above the snowy slope.
Etna is located in Sicily and has a height of over 3,300 metres (the height is constantly changing with subsequent eruptions), making it the highest volcanic cone in Europe and one of the most active in the world. It is estimated that Etna covers an area of 1,240 square kilometres, and the volcano began forming about 500,000 years ago.
In 1987, a protected area was established around the volcano in the form of the Etna Regional Park. The park was created to protect the landscape in response to the increasing human presence. The park covers an area of 580 square kilometres.
Etna is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sicily. It continually attracts researchers and geology enthusiasts.
