Mount Etna's Eruption Sends Ash Plume Kilometers High, Tourists Evacuated

Mount Etna Erupts: Tourists Flee as Ash Plume Reaches Kilometers High On June 2nd, 2025, Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, experienced a significant eruption, sending a towering plume of ash and smoke several kilometers into the atmosphere. The eruption, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology's Etna Observatory in Catania, was triggered by a pyroclastic flow originating from a collapse of material on the northern flank of the Southeast Crater. While initial observations suggest the flow remained within the Valle del Leone, the event prompted immediate evacuations of tourists from the area. "The volcanic tremor reached very high values," stated a volcanologist from the Etna Observatory, emphasizing the intensity of the event. "The explosive activity from the Southeast Crater transitioned to a lava fountain." Videos circulating on social media, such as the one featured here, show the massive eruption cloud and the rapid retreat of onlookers. The eruption serves as a stark reminder of the dynamic nature of Mount Etna and the importance of monitoring volcanic activity. While no significant damage has been reported, the event underscores the potential risks associated with volcanic eruptions and the need for preparedness.