One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Etna, roared to life on Monday with a massive eruption that sent plumes of volcanic ash and rivers of lava pouring down its slopes, prompting urgent evacuations and air travel disruptions in Sicily.
Videos circulating online show crowds of panicked tourists fleeing down the mountainside, as thick ash darkened the skies and loud explosions echoed as far as 30 miles away in towns like Catania and Taormina. According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the eruption is the most powerful since 2014.
Authorities confirmed a partial crater collapse on the volcano’s southeast side, triggering a pyroclastic eruption—a violent event marked by high-speed flows of hot gas, volcanic ash, and rock fragments. These flows raced down the volcano’s flanks, but so far, no major injuries or casualties have been reported.
“Despite the intensity, the lava remained within natural containment zones,” said Sicily’s regional president Renato Schifani, reassuring that nearby towns were not in immediate danger.
Etna, located on the Italian island of Sicily, draws more than 1.5 million tourists annually, many hiking near its summit. At the time of the eruption, around 40 tourists were on the volcano, according to a local tour company spokesperson who described the scene as “chaotic but controlled.”
The Civil Protection Agency in Sicily quickly issued a Volcanic Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA), advising aircraft to steer clear of the region due to the ash plume. Although the Catania and Palermo airports remain operational, several flights have been diverted or delayed as a precaution.
Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano, known for frequent but typically moderate eruptions. However, this latest event has scientists on alert due to the increased volcanic tremors and crater instability. Officials are closely monitoring seismic activity for signs of further eruptions in the coming days.