Researchers measure increasing activity on a volcano near Sicily. Some residents have already been evacuated. Is an outbreak like on La Palma to be feared?
Vulcano – The island of Vulcano is a picturesque spot not far from the north coast of Sicily (Italy). The largest town has a little less than 400 inhabitants: inside, they live mainly from tourism. One would like to think of a place of rest. If it weren’t for the one large “Gran Cratere” volcano, which takes up more than two thirds of the island’s area.
The volcanologist Marco Pistolesi reported on Twitter of worrying incidents around the volcano. “Some families have been evacuated from a village on Vulcano. The soil is increasingly emitting CO2, and animal corpses have also been found. ”This is also confirmed by the Italian science portal Il Mondo dei Terremoti on Twitter. An abnormal smoke development is reported in a tweet. Toxic gases would have forced the authorities to act. Could conditions like the volcanic eruption of La Palma also occur on the island?
| Vulcano Island | |
|---|---|
| height | 501 meters |
| province | Messina |
| Archipelago | Aeolian Islands |
| Last eruption | 1890 |
Volcano on Volcano: Gas is leaking from the ground
The Italian fire brigade also reported an operation. Accordingly, measurements were carried out on Vulcano. The presence of carbon dioxide vapors has been investigated. No further information was given.
How high the risk is is currently difficult to assess. According to Il Mondo dei Terremoti, there is no imminent eruption. Rather, the poisonous gases are currently an immediate threat. However, should the volcano erupt on the small island, the consequences could be devastating. Vulcano is far less populated than, for example, La Palma, but since the island consists for the most part of the volcano, action would have to be taken quickly in the event of an eruption.
Sleeping volcano on Volcano: volcano is deforming
Due to the events on the island, the danger situation for Vulcano has now been reassessed. The Italian civil defense has now set the island to the yellow warning level. However, this is not only due to the escaping gases.
“Gran Cratere” volcano on Vulcano Island
The volcano on Vulcano is a so-called stratovolcano. This type of volcano is characterized as being steeply tapered and tapered.
In addition, increased temperatures of the volcano and increasing seismic activities were measured. The volcano also began to deform in August. “Something like this has never been observed on the island,” tweeted volcanologist Marco Pistolesi in response to the increase in the warning level. (slo)
