Overview
- Two paroxysmal episodes on December 27 produced lava fountains up to 500 meters and an ash- and lapilli-laden column rising above 10 kilometers, according to INGV.
- A new vent on the upper eastern flank of Voragine fed a short lava flow toward the upper Valle del Bove, with field checks indicating about 2 kilometers of extent by morning on December 27.
- INGV raised Etna’s Aviation Color Code to Red during the peak activity on December 27 as tremor and infrasound amplitudes reached very high levels.
- By December 28, activity declined to vigorous strombolian bursts at Voragine with weak effusion and high but stable tremor, and no significant new ground deformation detected.
- Light ashfall was recorded in Taormina and the Piano Provenzana ski area, regional civil protection temporarily elevated alerts, and local airports reported operations largely continuing.