Mount Etna has kept Sicily in suspense since the beginning of the year. Now the volcano in Italy is awakening again.
Catania – The Etna volcano erupted again on the Italian island of Sicily. The national institute for geophysics and volcanology (INGV) announced on Saturday (23.10.2021) that increased activity was measured in the early morning hours.
The photos showed the lava and ash seeping out of the crater on the southeast side. The gray column of smoke rose far into the sky. There were initially no reports of major damage, in some places there were reports of ash raining down.
Etna volcano in Italy has been particularly active for months
After a little less than a month there was another eruption at the southeast crater of Etna, wrote the INGV in a blog post. It was the 52nd this year since February 16. After a few explosions, a cloud of smoke rose for kilometers into the sky and was driven by the wind to the northeast as far as Calabria on the mainland. A resident south of Mount Etna told the German press agency that the outbreak was not felt so strongly where she lived.
Etna, which is more than 3350 meters high, has been very active so far this year. Since mid-February it broke out regularly and sometimes spectacularly. Satellite images revealed: The many eruptions made the Italian volcano even bigger.
The ash raining down is often a problem for people in the area, and the airport in the city of Catania at the foot of Mount Etna had to temporarily shut down in the past because the runway was dirty. In September, the Sicilian government promised the municipalities two million euros in aid for the ash damage.
“Nightmare” for agriculture: Etna volcano erupted again in Italy
The Coldiretti Agricultural Association spoke on Saturday that the “nightmare” was returning to the Sicilian fields. The ashes cause damage to the cultivated areas. There needs to be norms that protect the farmers inside. The cleaning of the fields takes time, water and therefore a lot of work at barely affordable costs.
Another volcanic eruption has been keeping Europe in suspense for weeks. The volcano Cumbre Vieja on La Palma spits lava. Part of the island has been destroyed and thousands are homeless. The government is holding out the prospect of further aid. (tvd / dpa)
Heading image: © Davide Anastasi / dpa
