On the morning of 21 December 2020, a paroxysmal episode occurred at the South-East Crater of Etna.
Already during the day of December 20, the surveillance networks of the Etna Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (OE-INGV) had recorded a gradual increase in the amplitude of the volcanic tremor but, due to the adverse weather conditions which prevented ordinary observations through video surveillance, it was not possible to make direct observations.
Starting from the early hours of 21 December, intense Strombolian-type activity was recorded from three eruptive vents on the South-East Crater.
At 8:00 (local time) the amplitude of the volcanic tremor showed a sudden increase and, at 10:00, from the images of the thermal surveillance cameras located in Bronte and Nicolosi, an activity of lava fountains was evident for at least two eruptive vents on the South-East Crater, with the formation of a high eruptive column. In some moments of visibility it was possible to ascertain that two lava flows were emitted, one through the south-western sector of the cone of the South-East Crater, which had collapsed during the paroxysm of 13 December last, and the other on the northeastern side of the cone.
The lava fountaining activity lasted less than an hour and essentially ended around 12:00 on 21 December, together with a decrease in the amplitude of the volcanic tremor.
Etna's activity is constantly monitored by the INGV Etna Observatory in Catania. The usual inspection by OE-INGV personnel is underway in the affected area to take samples of the products emitted during today's paroxysm.
Figure 1 - Etna, 21 December 2020
Figure 2 - Etna, 21 December 2020
Photo 1 - Etna, 21 December 2020