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Mount Etna Eruption Sends Tourists Fleeing but Leaves Communities Unharmed

The eruption’s pyroclastic flow stayed within the Valle del Leone natural barrier, allowing Catania airport to remain open under a downgraded aviation alert.

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Volcanic steam rises from Mount Etna, as seen from Milo, Italy, June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Restivo/ File Photo
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Overview

  • On June 2, Mount Etna unleashed strombolian explosions that propelled an ash column over 6 kilometres into the sky, prompting tour groups to rush downhill.
  • A pyroclastic flow occurred around 11:23 AM but traveled only 2 kilometres into Valle del Leone’s natural containment, preventing any threat to nearby settlements.
  • By late afternoon, eruptive activity had subsided, leaving the summit closed as a precaution but causing neither injuries nor community evacuations.
  • The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse issued a red aviation warning that was subsequently downgraded to orange, letting Catania airport maintain normal flight operations.
  • This event marks Etna’s 14th eruptive episode since mid-March, highlighting its persistent activity and the ongoing monitoring by Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.