On June 2, the famous Mount Etna volcano on Sicily, Italy, experienced a violent eruption, emitting a large amount of hot gas, volcanic ash, and lava. The eruption reached heights of several kilometers, with explosive sounds audible in nearby cities like Taormina and Catania, located tens of kilometers away.

Social media footage showed terrified tourists fleeing down the mountain in a state of panic, causing temporary chaos. According to CNN, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that initial observations indicated partial collapse on the northern slope of the southeast crater, a region that has witnessed spectacular lava flows in recent months, indicating a significant increase in internal volcanic pressure.

INGV described this eruption as the most powerful since 2014, categorizing it as a “volcanic pyroclastic flow eruption,” which is a deadly mixture of hot gases, ash, lava fragments, and rock debris sliding rapidly down the slope, posing a substantial danger. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe and a popular tourist destination, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually, many of whom climb close to the summit to experience its unique volcanic landscape.

A local tour company operator stated that there were 40 tourists participating in a tour when the volcano erupted unexpectedly, forcing them to flee the scene urgently. Due to concerns that volcanic ash could disrupt air traffic, the Sicilian civil protection agency issued a “Volcanic Observation Notice” (VONA), advising all flights to avoid airspace near the volcano. Both Catania and Palermo airports in Sicily remain open since winds have not directed volcanic ash towards them; however, data from FlightRadar indicates that some flights originally destined for Catania have been redirected to Palermo.

INGV further explained that the volcano began emitting large amounts of hot lava at 1 PM local time, which is consistent with previous identified eruption patterns, and the explosions continue, with increasing seismic activity prompting close monitoring of the situation.