Italy’s Mt. Etna erupts, sending huge plume of ash and rock into air
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Italy’s Mount Etna Erupts, Sending Tourists Fleeing As Giant Plumes Of Ash Explode Into The Sky
The eruptions on the Italian island started in the early-morning hours and quickly grew more intense. The ash cloud reached an estimated height of 21,000 feet. There have been more than 15 eruptions so far this year. The volcano is the tallest in Europe, standing 11,165 feet.
The eruptions on the Italian island started in the early-morning hours and quickly grew more intense. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said a pyroclastic flow, or avalanche of burning ash, crashed down the slopes of the volcano’s southeast crater.
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The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse alerted that the ash cloud had reached an estimated height of 21,000 feet.
An initial red aviation warning was downgraded to orange and there were no concerns of any immediate risk to the nearby population. Light ashfall was reported over the Piano Vetore area, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.
The rising plumes of smoke could be seen from the city of Catania, creating an extraordinary backdrop at hotels.
Mount Etna is the tallest volcano in Europe, standing 11,165 feet tall, and it’s considered the most active. Sicily’s residents are accustomed to frequent eruptions with ash that often disrupt air travel. There have been more than 15 eruptions so far this year.
Massive plume of ash, gas spews from Italy’s Mount Etna
Philippines to set up security, defense dialogue with EU. First meeting is set to take place in the last quarter of 2025. New dialogue is part of a partnership and cooperation agreement between the Philippines and the EU which came into effect in 2018. Philippines advanced its defense ties with key EU partners over the weekend at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro held a series of bilaterals.
Manila: The Philippines and the EU agreed on Monday to start a security and defense dialogue to address cyberattacks and foreign interference.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo made the announcement with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, during her visit to Manila.
“Our relationship reaches another significant milestone with our decision to create a security and defense dialogue. This dialogue will provide a mechanism for the Philippines and the European Union to discuss security and defense-related issues with both depth and regularity,” Manalo said during a joint press conference with Kallas.
“We hope that through the security and defense dialogue we will remain proactive and united in addressing emerging security threats and challenges that transcend borders — cyberattacks and foreign interference and manipulation of information to name a few.”
Kallas said the dialogue would address the “current geopolitical challenges and will foster exchanges and cooperation in security and defense areas, including maritime security.”
The Philippines advanced its defense ties with key EU partners over the weekend at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro held a series of bilaterals on the sidelines of the event with his French, Swedish and Lithuanian counterparts.
The new dialogue is part of a partnership and cooperation agreement between the Philippines and the EU which came into effect in 2018.
The inaugural meeting is set to take place in the last quarter of 2025.
The Philippines’ top diplomat and the EU’s foreign policy chief also committed to advancing talks on a free trade agreement.
“Noting the firm commitment of both sides in advancing negotiations, I expressed the Philippines’ hope for the continued support of the EU and its member states toward the early conclusion of negotiations of a comprehensive, balanced, and modern FTA,” Manalo said.
EU and Philippine representatives completed FTA negotiation rounds in October last year and February this year, with the next round expected to take place in Brussels in June.
Mount Etna erupts, sending tourists fleeing as ash and smoke billow into the sky
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted late last night, sending massive plumes of ash and smoke into the sky. The eruption, which began around 10 PM local time, followed a volcanic tremor that had been building in intensity for several hours. As the eruption unfolded, the southeastern crater collapsed into the bubbling magma, igniting a fierce lava fountain that spewed molten rock, ash, and gases into the atmosphere. The ash plume has reached a height of 4 miles, drifting northwest away from the nearby city of Catania, though it continues to cause concern for aviation.
New Delhi:
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted late last night, sending massive plumes of ash and smoke into the sky, prompting tourists to flee the area. The eruption, which began around 10 PM local time, followed a volcanic tremor that had been building in intensity for several hours. As the eruption unfolded, the southeastern crater collapsed into the bubbling magma, igniting a fierce lava fountain that spewed molten rock, ash, and gases into the atmosphere.
The eruption’s ash plume has reached a height of 4 miles, drifting northwest away from the nearby city of Catania, though it continues to cause concern for aviation. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse (VAAC) has issued a “Code Red” warning for aviation, indicating a significant amount of ash in the atmosphere. As of now, only a few flights from Catania airport have been delayed, but authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
Tourists who had gathered to witness the mountain’s activity were caught off guard by the sudden eruption, with some capturing the terrifying moment on video. The sight of thick, gray smoke and the deafening sounds of explosions turned what was once a popular vacation spot into a scene of panic. Many tourists were seen running to safety as the eruption escalated.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that the eruption was preceded by “strombolian explosions” of increasing intensity. These explosive bursts eventually gave way to a continuous lava fountain, sending ash and gas clouds into the atmosphere. The volcanic tremor was described as reaching “very high values,” indicating a significant surge in activity.
This eruption follows a series of intense volcanic events on Mount Etna, with a major eruption occurring just last May. In February, the mountain produced a dramatic lava flow, attracting attention from adventurers like snowboarder Marco Bassot, who described the experience as “one of the most breathtaking” of his life.
With Mount Etna continuing to exhibit signs of heightened activity, local authorities are urging caution and advising people to stay clear of the area until the threat subsides.
Mount Etna erupts with huge plume of ash; tourists seek safety
Videos circulating online show people running as smoke from Mount Etna fills the air. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy says it is a pyroclastic flow. The active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions. Earlier this year, skiers were captured going down the slopes while lava flowed in the background.
Several videos circulating online show people running as smoke from the side of Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano volcano in Sicily, filled the air on June 2.
Footage and photos were also shared by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Italy. The government agency wrote in a translated post that a pyroclastic flow, a combination of ash, rock, and gas, “probably produced by the collapse of material from the northern side of the Southeast Crater.”
The INGV added that the “explosive activity” has “moved to “a lava mountain.” According to GB News, an international news outlet, a spokesperson for the institute explained that “the values of the tremor amplitude are currently high with a tendency to increase further.”
Previous Mount Etna eruption: Skiers glide by flowing lava
Where is Mount Etna located?
Europe’s largest and most active volcano, Mount Etna, is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions, and volcanic activity in the region can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions, USGS says.
Earlier this year, skiers were captured going down the slopes while lava flowed in the background.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
Is it safe to travel to Sicily? Your rights as Mount Etna eruption threatens disruption
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, has erupted on the Italian island of Sicily. A pyroclastic flow of hot rock, ash, and gas was seen falling around 11:30am, while a fountain of lava continues to emit from its southeast crater. Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse has issued a red aviation warning, but flights appear not to be largely affected as of midday Monday. Etna sits in a national park near the port city of Catania, filled with a wealth of Baroque architecture and popular with those looking to head off to the volcano’s foothills, covered with ash hills on guided hikes. The volcano is one of the world’s most active, having erupted as recently as February this year. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not released any new travel advice relating to Mount Etna’s eruption as of Monday morning. If you are asked to evacuate, do so as soon as possible and take your key documents and necessary supplies (for example, medication) with you.
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, has erupted on the Italian island of Sicily, sending plumes of smoke into the air as tourists ran for their lives down the side of the mountain.
The volcano is one of the world’s most active, having erupted as recently as February this year when it spewed hot ash and lava. This time around, a pyroclastic flow of hot rock, ash, and gas was seen falling around 11.30am, while a fountain of lava continues to emit from its southeast crater.
Mount Etna sits in a national park near the port city of Catania, filled with a wealth of Baroque architecture and popular with those looking to head off to the volcano’s foothills, covered with ash hills lava rocks on guided hikes.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse has issued a red aviation warning, but flights appear not to be largely affected as of midday Monday.
Here is everything we know so far about Mount Etna’s eruption.
When did Mount Etna erupt?
Mount Etna began erupting overnight, sending a large column of smoke and ash into the sky above Sicily.
Footage on social media showed people running down the mountainside of Etna as the smoke intensified.
Volcanic tremors were felt before the blast between 10pm Sunday and 1am Monday, local time.
open image in gallery Etna has three major craters at its peak ( Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology )
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the eruption began around 3.50am local time (2.50am BST), following volcanic tremors which started around midnight local time.
The institute said eruption activity has continued since then with “increasing intensity” and is “almost continuous”.
“From a seismic point of view, the values of the tremor amplitude are currently high with a tendency to increase further,” the institute said.
A pyroclastic flow, which is an avalanche of hot rock, ash, and gas, was witnessed on Mount Etna surveillance cameras at around 11:30am local time, the institute added; however, the hot material does not appear to have crossed the edge of the Valle del Leone.
Meanwhile, the explosive activity from the Southeast Crater has become a lava fountain.
What is the government’s advice?
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not released any new travel advice relating to Mount Etna’s eruption as of Monday morning.
The FCDO’s general advice for volcanic eruptions states that you should follow any guidance and instructions shared with you by local authorities.
open image in gallery Mount Etna’s eruption ( Sicily Civil Protection Agency )
“If you are asked to evacuate, do so as soon as possible and take your key documents (for example, passport) and necessary supplies (for example, medication) with you,” the FCDO adds.
“If you are not told to evacuate but are in an affected area, you should shelter in place. Close any windows and turn off air conditioning or HVAC systems. Ensure that you have enough basic supplies (including food, necessary medication and bottled water) given power may be affected and water supplies may be contaminated. If you cannot get basic supplies to shelter in place, you may need to evacuate.
“If you go outside, cover your skin and wear a mask or other face covering, as volcanic ash could irritate your skin and airways.”
Will my flight be cancelled?
The FCDO says that if you are on board or waiting to board a plane when a volcano erupts, expect flights to be rerouted or cancelled because volcanic ash is damaging to engines.
A red aviation alert was issued in response to the eruption of Mount Etna by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse, one of nine such centres worldwide used to monitor aviation risks.
Sicily has four main international airports: Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA), Palermo-Falcone Borsellino (PMO), Trapani-Birgi (TPS), and Ragusa-Comiso (CIY).
All four airports appear to be carrying on with their flight schedule as normal as of midday Monday, with very little disruption. Catania has seen some minor delays in flights departing Monday morning, the longest being just over an hour.
What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?
As a passenger, you are covered by UK law if you are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.
Airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is cancelled, meaning they must supply you with food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers), means for you to communicate (often by refunding call costs), accommodation if you are given a new flight the following day, and transport to and from the accommodation or your home.
The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it, the Civil Aviation Authority says.
Sometimes, airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance if they are stretched during major disruptions, meaning you can arrange the care yourself and claim the cost back later by keeping receipts.
If your cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund if their flight is cancelled.
If you recieved less than 14 days’ notice of a cancellation, you may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline’s fault.
Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Can I cancel my holiday to Sicily?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Italy, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast