Etna eruption over: volcano ash reaches Reggio Calabria

Last Updated: December 2, 2023

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According to the calculations of the Etna Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), almost 3 million cubic meters of magma were erupted last night (December 1st) from Mount Etna, during one of the most spectacular eruptions in recent years. The lava fountain activity at the southeast crater ended around 8:35 pm. The eruption, at its peak, produced a column up to about 6,000 meters high, with dispersion in the northeastern quadrants of the volcano. There have been reports on social media of ash fall in the towns of Fiumefreddo, Calatabiano, Giardini Naxos, and even Reggio Calabria. The lava fountain was accompanied by effusive activity that formed two lava flows that spread south and east from the southeast crater. According to the volcanologists of the INGV, “seismic tremor, after reaching maximum values around 7:30 pm, showed a clear decreasing trend and around 9 pm reached average values.” The sources of the tremor remain confined to the area of the southeast crater at a depth of about 3000 meters above sea level. Now, the populations of the affected areas will have to deal with the annoying and expensive operation of cleaning and disposing of the volcanic sand. The volcanologist of the Etna Park, Salvatore Caffo, commented, “Once again we have had the opportunity to observe nature at its highest manifestation: the creation of new crust and atmosphere. The privilege of living in such a special place deserves adequate attention to allow future generations to not lose the sense of belonging to the Earth.”