Tourists flee as Mount Etna unleashes powerful early-morning eruption
#Etna
Collassa porzione del cratere, grosso flusso piroclastico
pic.twitter.com/0KopQy0ZtY
— Local Team (@localteamit)
June 2, 2025
MOUNT ETNA, EUROPE'S most active volcano, erupted early this morning and sent massive plumes of ash and smoke into the Sicilian sky, causing panic among locals and tourists.
According to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse, ash plumes rose to around 6,400 metres high, triggering a 'code red' aviation alert.
A code red means that there is a 'significant' amount of ash in the atmosphere.
Despite the alert, the eruption will cause no threat to the public, experts have said.
Footage widely shared on social media shows panicked tourists fleeing the slopes of Etna as ash began falling and tremors were felt in nearby communities.
Advertisement
#Etna
2025 suite de l'éruption
pic.twitter.com/95sZiVHGbM
— 🥗Aurelien Pouzin🍯 (@aurelienpouzin)
June 2, 2025
Despite the eruption, Sicily's Catania International Airport remained open and operational, though authorities warned of potential flight disruptions if ash levels increase.
Italian civil aviation is yet to close any airspace.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) have said that they are closely monitoring the event.
Smoke billows from Mount Etna volcano, Italy.
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
The institute suggested the eruption may have been caused by a partial collapse of Etna's southeast crater, although no lava flows had breached the Etna Valley by this afternoon.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Additional reporting from AFP
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The English seaside bar that feels like a ‘slice of Italy' and is loved by locals
ONE of the UK's most traditional seaside towns has a little-known beach bar that people say transports you to the Med. Posillipo Restaurant is found in 4 Posillipo Restaurant in Broadstairs "feels like a little slice of Italy" Credit: Google 4 The restaurant's Italian cuisine features homemade olive bread, antipasti and sharing platters Credit: Google Along with restaurants in Canterbury and Faversham as well, they said they created it to "feel like a little slice of Italy". Originally founded back in 1994, Posillipo was created by Vincenzo and Espedito who met at a cooking school on the Posillipo Hills near Naples in Italy. The restaurant's Italian cuisine features homemade olive bread, antipasti, sharing platters and speciality seafood linguine. And of course, what Italian restaurant is complete without tiramisu? Read more on beach bars Guests can enjoy stunning views of Viking Bay, the creek in Faversham and the charm of Canterbury from the restaurant. One recent visitor said: "This Italian restaurant exceeded all our expectations! "The food was excellent—authentic, flavorful, and beautifully presented. "The ambience was perfect, providing a warm and inviting atmosphere. Most read in News Travel Another added: "If you are a fan of Italian cooking you'll love this restaurant based on the Broadstairs seafront, not only is the food and service first class but the view is superb, if you are on holiday or local try it, you won't be disappointed." The cosy Italian spot is just steps away from Viking Bay - which is known for its horseshoe-shape. Capri Beach Club, Exchange Manchester And between March and October, the beach is home to a surf school and lifeguards are at the beach seasonally. There is also In fact, the museum is located in a cottage that Dickens used as inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. When exploring the museum, visitors get the chance to see letters Dickens wrote up close, whilst he stayed in Broadstairs. Tours are also available and the attraction has a gift shop too. The own boasts more Dickens spots including a plaque dedicated to the author and 'The Charles Dickens' pub. After exploring the local area, you might want to enjoy a nice ice cream. If so, one popular spot is Morelli's Gelato, where you can get an ice cream from a business that originated in the early 1900s on a bicycle before making it to the famous Harrods food hall. 4 There is also Charles Dickens' House Museum nearby which celebrates the author's connections to the town Credit: Google The parlour in Broadstairs was the first to be opened and now the business has three destinations across the UK. You can then take your ice cream to the beach, where there is a funfair and plenty of space to thrown down a picnic blanket. The other Posillipo sites in Faversham and He most recently visited in January, but also dined there back in 2023. On a post on the restaurant's Instagram account, the musician commented: "Lovely dinner thanks." Broadstairs was also nicknamed the Plus, the 4 The restaurant boasts great views across the bay Credit: Google
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Meet the young busker bringing Italian music to the streets of Galway – ‘Some have left me flowers, and once even a mini vodka'
Despite having no busking experience and very little English, this 20-year-old musician packed his bags and left Italy for Ireland to follow his dreams It is no secret that Galway City is a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural space, fizzing with artistic flavours from all walks of life. Buskers play an important role in the city's identity, and this summer's line-up of street entertainers includes a continental twist in the form of Luca Brunello. A native of Rovigo, in northern Italy, Luca (20) moved to Ireland in February of this year following months of pondering about his future. It is a decision that continues to amaze him – despite having no busking experience whatsoever, Luca has totally immersed himself in the Irish scene, finding a niche performing staple Italian tunes to the delight of his Irish audiences.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Italian cities on red alert over extreme temperatures
Rome, Venice and 19 other Italian cities are under a red alert for high temperatures this weekend, as temperatures also soared across the Balkans, triggering heatwave health warnings. In Croatia, the capital Zagreb and the country's east were at the highest risk of heat, according to the national Meteorological and Hydrological Service. Authorities remained on high alert after forest fires over the weekend destroyed dozens of homes on the country's tourism-oriented southern coast. Albania said its firefighters managed to control eight blazes in the past 24 hours. Meteorologists in Bosnia warned people to stay indoors as parts of the country were predicted to climb to 41C. "Be ready to suspend outdoor activities and prepared for high temperatures that will lead to health risks among vulnerable people, like the elderly and very young," Bosnia's meteorological institute said. This is the first of at least three heatwaves expected during the June-August period in Bosnia, said Bakir Krajinovic from the country's Federal Hydro-Meteorological Institute. Temperatures so far this month have already exceeded forecasts, and predictions for July and August indicate temperatures will be four to five degrees above average, Mr Krajinovic said. It was also the driest June on record in Bosnia, with the lowest rainfall since measurements began 135 years ago. Mr Krajinovic said climate change was driving "more intense" weather events and breaking records "more often". Parts of Serbia are predicted to climb to 39C, also significantly above seasonal average, according to Serbia's National Hydrometeorological Service. The heat is expected to ease today, with temperatures slightly dropping over the weekend, before climbing again next week, according to weather forecasts for several Balkan nations. Meanwhile, Greek firefighters said that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. The fire around Athens broke out yesterday near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50km east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists. Though it was under control, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said. A spokesman for the fire service said that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze. The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios -- Greece's fifth-largest island -- which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares of land in four days.
