In the early hours of June 2, Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, suddenly awoke with a violent eruption, blanketing the skies over Sicily with smoke and ash. The event prompted emergency warnings from authorities, panicked tourists, and a red alert for air safety in a dramatic sequence of events.
At 4:14 a.m. local time, Mount Etna on the island of Sicily began an increasingly powerful Stromboli-style eruption, drawing the attention of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
In its morning statement, the institute confirmed that huge plumes of smoke and ash rising from the southeastern crater had sent fine ash falling over the Piano Vettore region. By 11:03 a.m. local time, they had officially declared the eruption not only more powerful but also almost continuous.
During the eruption, the sky became a battlefield as lava bombs and ash clouds shot hundreds of meters into the air. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported that the ash cloud reached an altitude of about 21,000 feet – a level that could pose a serious danger to international aviation.
As a result, the aviation warning was raised to red at 3:32 UTC. However, as the situation gradually stabilized, the warning level was downgraded to orange at 6:39. Spectacular images of the eruption quickly spread across social media platforms.
The sight of thick black smoke billowing over the area between Messina and Catania stunned many people. Meanwhile, tourists ran down the slopes in panic, covering their ears from the loud explosions, trying to find a way out amid the terrifying scene of heat and thick smoke from the lava.
Despite the locals’ efforts to remain calm, Etna’s destructive power has once again left a deep mark on the collective memory.
The event was signaled on the evening of June 1, when white smoke began to rise from Etna’s southeastern crater. From 10 pm, underground tremors at a depth of 2.8 km began to appear – a clear sign that a major eruption was approaching. The intensity and duration of these tremors confirmed this.
This eruption once again reminded humanity of the powerful, enduring power of Etna – a volcano that has been active non-stop for thousands of years in the heart of the Mediterranean.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected by this event. If you want to receive more updates like this, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications. Stay safe!
