Latest news with #VAAC
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Watch a live view of Mount Etna after huge volcanic eruption
Watch a live view of Mount Etna's eruption in Sicily, Italy, with a huge column of smoke and ash spewing into the sky above the Italian island on Monday (2 June). Footage shared on social media shows tourists fleeing down the mountainside following an eruption from Europe's largest active volcano. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said in a widely-reported statement that the volcano was experiencing strong strombolian explosions – a type of eruption – 'of growing intensity'. The pyroclastic flow — an avalanche of hot rock, ash, and gas — was 'probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the south-east crater', it added. According to the Volcanic Discovery website, before the eruption, there were volcanic tremors that began around 10pm local time on Sunday and reached their peak shortly before 1 am. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Toulouse, one of nine such centres worldwide used to monitor aviation risks, warned that a volcanic ash plume had reached an altitude of around 6,400 metres. VAAC issued a brief 'code red' for aviation due to the eruption, but it was downgraded to orange.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Watch a live view of Mount Etna after huge volcanic eruption
Watch a live view of Mount Etna's eruption in Sicily, Italy, with a huge column of smoke and ash spewing into the sky above the Italian island on Monday (2 June). Footage shared on social media shows tourists fleeing down the mountainside following an eruption from Europe 's largest active volcano. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said in a widely-reported statement that the volcano was experiencing strong strombolian explosions – a type of eruption – 'of growing intensity'. The pyroclastic flow — an avalanche of hot rock, ash, and gas — was 'probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the south-east crater', it added. According to the Volcanic Discovery website, before the eruption, there were volcanic tremors that began around 10pm local time on Sunday and reached their peak shortly before 1 am. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Toulouse, one of nine such centres worldwide used to monitor aviation risks, warned that a volcanic ash plume had reached an altitude of around 6,400 metres. VAAC issued a brief 'code red' for aviation due to the eruption, but it was downgraded to orange.
Metro
02-06-2025
- Metro
Orange alert for tourists after 'intense' Mount Etna eruption in Sicily
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mount Etna has erupted in Sicily, spewing fountains of lava and the largest plumes of ash the Italian island has seen in years. Tourists ran down the mountainside on Monday morning as black clouds billowed into the sky from Europe's tallest and most active volcano. Footage shared on social media shows an enormous burst of ash and boiling rock blanketing the slopes. Reports in Mediterranean media claim the smoke could be seen from Malta. But if you have a holiday booked, is it still safe to travel to Sicily — and have flights been cancelled? The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse (VAAC), which monitors aviation risks, issued a brief 'code red' due to the eruption earlier today. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. This has since been downgraded to an orange alert. It means that pilots should exercise caution when flying near the area. Catania Airport, which sits at the foot of Mount Etna, remains fully operational. Departures are taking off on schedule, but arrivals from Berlin, Milan and Rome have been delayed this afternoon. When eruptions occur, the airport usually advises passengers to check their flight status with their airline before leaving home, as the situation can change quickly depending on volcanic activity. Metro recommends keeping an eye on airline apps or websites for live updates, as well as airlines' social media accounts. According to Italian volcanologists, Mount Etna has been experiencing strombolian explosions of 'growing intensity'. These explosions are typically moderate eruptions. The UK Foreign Office has not updated guidance on travel to Sicily. Prior to the eruption, volcanic tremors began around 10pm local time and reached their peak shortly before 1am, according to the Volcanic Discovery website. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology issued a statement on the eruption: 'Over the past few hours, the activity flagged in the previous statement issued at 4.14am (3.14 am BST) has carried on with strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous.' Authorities said thin ash has fallen in the Piano Vetore area, around one hour north. Mount Etna is a volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean. It stands 3,400 metres tall and has a base of around 100 miles. The ancient port city of Catania and its namesake airport sit at the foot of the volcano, giving arriving and departing travellers a spectacular view. Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe, and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It has a frequent history of eruption, dating back 3,000 years. The largest eruption on record happened in 1669. It's believed that over a dozen villages were destroyed by ash and earthquakes that took place around the eruption. Around 20,000 lost their lives and thousands were left homeless. More recently, eruptions have blanketed the surrounding area in black volcanic ash, but lava has not reached nearby towns since the 1800s. More Trending Etna last erupted in February, sending a 3km river of lava flowing out of the crater at 3,000m altitude. The eruption caused minor travel disruption. Parts of Catania airport were closed due to poor visibility, and a handful of arrivals were delayed. Etna is one of Sicily's biggest tourist attractions, but it is also a source of fear and speculation. Some believe that French astrologer Nostradamus referred to a massive volcanic eruption taking place there in 2024 or 2025. MORE: A stranger helped me on a plane – they only made things worse MORE: The surprising reason cabin crew seatbelts are different from yours MORE: Body of British hiker, 36, found months after going missing in Italian Dolomites
Metro
02-06-2025
- Metro
Mount Etna erupts dramatically sending tourists running for their lives
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video People were pictured sprinting away from Mount Etna in Sicily after it spewed hot ash into the air today. Europe's largest active volcano has been rumbling quite a bit lately, and today it blew. As black clouds billowed up, tourist turned tail and ran for their lives down a path to safety. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse (VAAC) issued a brief 'code red' for aviation due to the eruption today. They said that an ash cloud mainly made up od water and sulfur dioxide was 'drifting towards the south west'. More to follow. MORE: Body of British hiker, 36, found months after going missing in Italian Dolomites MORE: Experts reveal what would happen if supervolcano 1,000 miles from London erupted MORE: EasyJet launches new holidays to 'charming' but underrated Italian seaside destination
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Indonesia on high alert after volcanic eruptions spew ash up to 5.5 km
Indonesian authorities have increased the alert level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to the highest tier following a surge in volcanic activity, with the volcano erupting multiple times over the weekend and again on Monday. The twin-peaked volcano, located on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, erupted eight times on Sunday, propelling columns of volcanic ash between 3km and 5.5km into the sky, according to Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia's volcanology agency. Another eruption occurred on Monday afternoon, producing an ash plume that reached 5km (16,400 feet), drifting north and northwest. Wafid confirmed that volcanic activity remained elevated and warned of the potential for even more powerful eruptions. 'Our analysis indicates that Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki remains highly active, and we raised the status level from 8 pm on Sunday,' he said in a statement. Authorities also expanded the designated exclusion zone to a radius of 6km around the crater, warning residents to evacuate the area and remain alert for cold lava flows, particularly during heavy rainfall. Images released by the geological agency showed dense clouds of grey ash rising from the volcano, accompanied by rumbling noises of varying intensity. While no evacuations or flight cancellations were initially reported, the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Darwin, Australia, issued a red alert, signifying a major ash emission with possible impacts on air travel. The heightened activity coincided with a magnitude 4.6 earthquake in North Sumatra and a series of minor tremors in other parts of Indonesia on May 18. These included quakes in Sulawesi, Bali, West Papua, and Seram Island. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki and Indonesia's ring of fire Mt Lewotobi Laki-laki, which translates to 'male' in Indonesian, is paired with its taller and typically quieter twin, Lewotobi Perempuan, meaning 'female'. While Laki-laki is known for its relatively more frequent eruptions, Perempuan has remained largely dormant in recent decades. This volcanic duo is part of Indonesia's volatile 'Ring of Fire', a horseshoe-shaped belt of tectonic plate boundaries that encircles the Pacific Ocean and accounts for some of the most powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Earth. Several volcanic eruptions in Indonesia This is the latest series of eruptions this year. Since the beginning of the year, separate volcanoes have erupted in Indonesia, with events recorded in January, February, March, and April. The situation escalated in mid-February when authorities first raised the alert to Level IV, the highest on Indonesia's four-tier scale. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki had also erupted in March, sending ash as high as 8-km, triggering expanded safety zones. Some flights out of Bali were also cancelled. Last year, in November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, resulting in the death of at least nine people. Residents warned of volcanic debris flow Residents living near rivers downstream of the volcano have been warned about the threat of lahars, dangerous flows of volcanic debris and mud, should intense rainfall occur. Officials also advised the public to wear face masks to minimise the health risks posed by ashfall. While evacuation has not yet been enforced, authorities continue to monitor the volcano closely and have urged communities to remain vigilant.
