Notoriously active Mt Etna has erupted in Italy, pouring ash and lava down on tourists just trying to have a nice day out.
The massive eruption has thrown ash, gas, and rock kilometers into the air. Tourists hiking the famous volcano at the time were left fleeing back down the slopes to the relative safety below. However, the fallout from this vast cloud will continue to wreak havoc on locals for days.
Mt Etna is known for its activity, often spewing clouds of smoke and ash into the sky. For this reason, it is a highly visited location in Sicily. Around 1.5 million people come to climb the turbulent but beautiful slopes, with many coming very close to the peak.
However, this eruption is the largest seen since 2014. As it blew its top, there were dozens of tour operators taking people to see the natural wonder. One operator, speaking to CNN, reportedly had 40 hikers with him.
“We were nearly grazed, look at this cloud here. We were two steps away, and thank goodness we have a responsible guide with us,” Giuseppe Panfallo, a local tour operator, said in a video. “It arrived all at once, an immense smoke, immense, immense roar.”
He, along with many other tour guides climbing Mt Etna during the eruption, could be seen streaming down the volcano. The Sicilian Civil Protection Agency has been working tirelessly to ensure that all the tourists have been accounted for and are back to safety.
Mt Etna Fallout For Nearby Town
At present, there is no concern of ash falling on the nearby town of Catania. The wind is favourable, and it drifting away from populated areas. However, the roads up the volcano have been closed, and authorities are keeping a close eye on the cloud.
There has been a warning issued to people living close by to be aware of wind changes. However, nobody is in danger at the moment. The nearby airports of Catania and Palermo are also able to stay open.
The explosion from the eruption of Mt Etna was reportedly heard 31 miles away. The eruption began on Sunday night and continued into Monday.