Italy’s Mount Etna erupted with breathtaking intensity, spewing ash, gas, and molten rock far into the Sicilian sky. The spectacle unfolded on Monday, June 2, when a colossal plume of ash shot upward, followed by a fierce avalanche of volcanic debris racing down the slopes of Europe’s largest active volcano.
The eruption sent shockwaves through the nearby city of Catania, home to over a million residents, as thick black smoke billowed overhead, forcing visitors and locals alike to scramble for safety. Around 11:20 AM local time, a sudden pyroclastic flow—an intense avalanche of hot lava blocks, ash, and volcanic gases—spilled from the volcano’s South-East Crater, carving a fiery path downward that looked as if the mountain itself was tearing apart from the summit.
Scientists monitoring Etna suggested that this violent activity began with the collapse of material within the South-East Crater. Following that collapse, what started as an explosive outburst transformed into a spectacular lava fountain, according to a midday update from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), which oversees the Etnean Observatory.
Despite the dramatic scenes, no injuries were reported when the story broke, though social media quickly filled with videos showing tourists fleeing on foot from the fiery spectacle. Catania’s mayor, Enrico Tarantino, sought to reassure the public, telling the Independent that “everything is normal and under control.” He emphasized that this eruption is a recurring natural phenomenon, expected due to the continuous monitoring of the volcano. “There is no criticality,” he said, underlining the routine nature of such events.
Mount Etna’s latest eruption adds to its ongoing activity, which began back on November 27, 2022, according to data from the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program. Standing tall at over 11,000 feet (3,350 meters), Etna remains Europe’s highest volcano, dominating the Sicilian landscape.
Volcanologists often note fascinating signs of an imminent eruption—one being the greener appearance of vegetation seen from space near active volcanoes, caused by changes in soil and atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, scientific mysteries continue to surround volcanoes worldwide, from quadruple volcanoes on secret Soviet military bases linked to climate shifts centuries ago, to the recent solving of the mystery behind Bolivia’s ‘zombie’ volcano.
The ash cloud from the June 2 eruption soared nearly 21,300 feet (6,500 meters), or roughly 4 miles high—almost double the height of the volcano itself—according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in France. This towering cloud mainly consisted of volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide gas (SO2).
Sulfur dioxide released by volcanoes can combine with other atmospheric particles to create a volcanic smog known as vog. Exposure to vog can lead to respiratory issues, eye irritation, and skin problems, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Thankfully, Italian authorities had not issued any warnings to residents about health threats at the time of the eruption.
As the volcanic activity continues, scientists and emergency responders remain vigilant, keeping a close eye on Etna’s moods to protect the millions living in its shadow. For now, the mountain’s fiery display serves as a powerful reminder of nature’s raw force—both beautiful and formidable.
