Etna Volcano Shows New Intense Explosive Activity from Voragine Crater

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is exhibiting renewed and intense explosive activity from its Voragine crater. The volcano's internal tremor, a key indicator of magma movement within its conduits, has surged to very high levels, according to monitoring systems at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania.

The INGV has reported ongoing effusive activity, with lava flows originating from vents at altitudes of 2,750 and 1,990 meters above sea level. The most advanced lava flow front has reached an altitude of 1,395 meters, situated between Rocca delle Palombe and Rocca Musarra. This effusive activity is distinct from the explosive events occurring at higher elevations.

Between 09:40 and 12:40 local time, the Northeast crater produced a series of short-lived explosions, generating an ash plume that dispersed southeastward over the summit area. Later, at 18:22, Strombolian activity resumed at the Voragine crater. Subsequently, starting at 18:45, ash emission intensified at the Northeast crater.

Seismically, the average amplitude of volcanic tremor has shown significant fluctuations since late yesterday, oscillating between low and medium values before steadily increasing. In recent hours, this rise has become more pronounced, with tremor amplitude escalating from medium to high levels around 18:00. The sources of this tremor are located between the Northeast and Voragine craters, at depths between 2,800 and 3,000 meters.