From the BZ editorial team
Worrying images from Italy.
Europe’s largest volcano is active again. On Sunday, Mount Etna on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily spewed a thick cloud of lava, igneous gases and rocks into the sky.
According to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the eruption column reached a height of up to 4.5 kilometers. Violent explosions could be seen and heard repeatedly.
Europe’s largest volcano spews lava and ash Photo: dpa-Bildfunk
Ash falling in the area
The people in the area clearly felt the volcanic activity. Ash fell in surrounding towns such as Milo and Zafferana Etnea. There has been no major damage so far.
If an outbreak were to occur, it would have dramatic consequences for people. Catania, the region around Mount Etna, is densely populated. Around 300,000 people live here. They work mainly in agriculture because volcanic soil is particularly fertile.
Volcanic eruption also on Iceland
Another volcano in Iceland is causing concern for Europe. The earth has been shaking repeatedly on the island for days. On Sunday night, authorities registered around 880 earthquakes between midnight and 6 a.m., broadcaster RUV reported. The series of earthquakes could enable an eruption.
The town of Grindavík, with around 3,700 residents, has already been evacuated and the nearby Blue Lagoon, the island’s best-known tourist attraction in the North Atlantic, has also been closed.
Possible disaster for air traffic
A parallel eruption of both volcanoes with an ash cloud would not only affect people in Italy and Iceland, but could paralyze large parts of European air traffic.
We remember the volcanic chaos in 2010 when 60 percent of all flights in Europe were canceled due to the gigantic ash cloud from Iceland.
So far everything is still flying. Operations also continued at Catania Airport in Sicily and the Icelandic capital Reykjavík.
Volcanoes are spread all over the globe. There are currently around 1,500 active volcanoes on the earth’s surface. Every year there are 50 to 60 eruptions worldwide, some stronger, some weaker.