Etna Erupts, Illuminating Sicily
Mount Etna's Eruption Creates Stunning Images, Illuminating Sicilian Night with Lava
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Europe's most active volcano put on a stunning show on the night of Monday, June 29, as Mount Etna erupted with towering lava fountains that lit up the Sicilian sky. Incandescent streams of molten rock carved bright orange rivers against the darkness, creating images that spread rapidly across the world. El Periódico reported that the contrast between the glowing lava and the black night was nothing short of spectacular.
The eruption is part of a sustained active cycle that began in late 2025. By June 29, the lava front had reached an altitude of between 2,700 and 2,750 meters above sea level, according to INGV, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Authorities raised the aviation alert level to Orange — the second-highest warning — though Catania's airport remained open.
How the Eruption Grew from Slow Flow to Fiery Spectacle
The current eruptive phase began on June 26, when a new vent opened at the eastern base of the Voragine summit crater, at roughly 3,000 meters altitude. A slow lava flow started moving toward the Valle del Bove, a large collapsed crater on Etna's eastern flank. By June 27, drone inspections by VolcanoDiscovery confirmed the flow was still active, with its front sitting at 2,800 meters.
The spectacle peaked on the night of June 29. Lava fountains shot upward from the Voragine crater, bathing the mountain in a fierce orange glow. Antonio De Luca, a volcanology guide with Passione Etna, noted that the high viscosity of the current flow makes it "advance steadily but slowly" — dramatic to watch, but less immediately dangerous than a fast-moving stream.
Scientists Warn of Hidden Risks Beneath the Lava Show
Beneath the visual drama lies a more complex picture. Stefano Branca, director of the INGV Etnean Observatory, said the volcano's internal "magmatic plumbing" is undergoing significant reorganization. A magnitude 1.2 earthquake struck 8 km from the summit at a depth of 25.9 km on June 30 at 00:53 local time, confirming that pressure is still building underground.
Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily's Civil Protection agency, issued a clear warning: lava meeting snow or water can trigger violent "hydro-magmatic explosions." He urged hikers to respect the 200-meter exclusion zone around any active flow front. A Cornell University study published in June 2026 shed light on why Etna behaves so unpredictably — the volcano uses two separate underground channels, one driven by CO2 and one by water, letting it switch between calm flows and explosive bursts.
Tourism and Local Economy Caught Between Wonder and Disruption
Etna draws thousands of visitors each year, and eruptions are a double-edged sword for the local economy. While lava shows pull in volcanology enthusiasts, summit path closures and cable car shutdowns cut deep into the incomes of guides, hotels, and restaurants. Past eruptions in 2025 and early 2026 forced the cancellation of more than 90 flights in a single day, stranding roughly 15,000 passengers at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport.
Professional guides are frustrated. In June 2026, groups of volcanology guides organized strikes — the first in decades — to protest what they call "blanket restrictions." They argue that experienced professionals can safely bring tourists within less than the current 200-meter limit. Mayor of Catania Enrico Trantino urged calm via social media, saying the city remains safe but is on "pre-alert" status while authorities monitor the mountain around the clock.
Etna's Long Restless Stretch: A Year of Escalating Activity
The June eruption did not come out of nowhere. Etna has been in an unusually restless period since late 2025. A significant eruption on Christmas Eve 2025 sent lava to 1,360 meters and triggered the first major tourism restrictions of the year. A New Year's Day 2026 fissure opened in the Valle del Bove, setting the stage for the current cycle of eruptions.
Scientists at the University of Lausanne have proposed that Etna belongs to a rare "fourth category" of volcanoes with unique geological features. That classification helps explain why the mountain stays active for far longer stretches than most other European volcanoes. Nello Musumeci, Italy's Minister for Civil Protection, stated that Etna is "under constant surveillance" and that evacuation plans are ready, though not yet triggered. For now, the mountain glows — and the world watches.
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