A Fresh Look at Mount Etna's Recent Eruption
Etna's Eruption Leaves Sicily's State Untouched
Hot lava and ash have been spewing from Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna on Sicily, since the crack of dawn on June 2, 2025. In videos, towering smoke and ash clouds can be seen, a sight quite familiar for this volcano, according to Giuseppe Salerno of the Italian Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). This latest eruption unleashed a pyroclastic flow, a hot mixture of ash, gas, and rock initiated by the collapse on the north side of the Southeast crater.
Initial measurements suggest that the fiery material was contained within the remote Valle del Leone ("Lion Valley"), an area far from populated regions. The aviation alert level briefly reached its maximum, red, and is now easing back to yellow. Despite the eruption, Catania's international airport has remained operational all day.
A Remarkable Eruption: More Intense Than Lately Seen
According to INGV, the explosive activity has intensified into a lava fountain, a sudden, spectacular eruptive phase characterized by liquid lava being propelled from the crater. Furthermore, tremors—ground vibrations—increased throughout the day as well as initial ground deformations in the crater area were noted.
INGV Director Stefano Branca told "La Repubblica" that the activity of Mount Etna has surpassed the less intense eruptions experienced recently; 2021's explosive events were more severe[1][2]. In past eruptions, the crater's outer wall remained stable, whereas this time the collapse occurred in front of unsuspecting tourists. This event produced an ash cloud within seconds, providing a thrilling yet ordinary spectacle for the volcanologist on hand.
Mount Etna, standing around 3,350 meters tall, undergoes frequent eruptions monitored by experts. These strombolian eruptions tend to offer a fascinating show, attracting many onlookers. Since early May, INGV has reported several eruptions in the area.
[1] italian daily "La Repubblica"
[2] European Space Agency
[3] INGV
What's intriguing is the comparison between the recent Mount Etna eruption and those seen previously. The explosive activity now surpasses the less intense eruptions from 2021, and it even resulted in a pyroclastic flow and a lava fountain – events rarely seen in environmental-science studies, particularly in the field of science related to space-and-astronomy and health-and-wellness.
