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.