Figure 1 Fountain and lava flows and eruptive column, seen from the Milo area, on the eastern flank of Etna
Figure 2 Still incandescent lava flows seen about an hour after the cessation of the lava fountain, seen from Tremestieri Etneo, directed towards the Valle del Bove (right) and towards the southwest (left)
Figure 3 - Images of the video surveillance network
Figure - 4 Images of the video surveillance network
After only 30 hours from the spectacular paroxysmal episode at the South-East Crater of Etna, in the late evening of 17 February 2021 a new increase in explosive activity was observed and the beginning of a lava overflow which, from the same crater, it flows eastwards in the direction of the desert Valle del Bove. At the same time the amplitude of the volcanic tremor also showed the usual increase, foreshadowing a new episode of lava fountaining.
Around 1:00 on 18 February the eruptive activity intensified and the lava fountains appeared reaching heights of several hundred metres, with peaks between 600 and 700 m.
While the initial lava flow rapidly traveled more than 3 km, following the same path as the main flow of the February 16 paroxysm, several other, smaller lava flows poured down the northern, eastern and southeastern flanks of the Crater of South-East, reaching lengths of about one km. A further lava flow was formed, crossing the "mouth of the saddle" on the southern flank of the South-East Crater, spreading towards the south-west.
During the lava fountaining activity, a dense eruptive column of gas, ash and lapilli was formed, which rose a few kilometers above the top of the volcano to bend towards the southeast due to the strong wind. The fallout deposit of this eruptive column extends from the Zafferana Etnea–Fleri area up to Acireale, near the Ionian coast of Sicily, and is characterized by the presence of numerous lapilli of a few centimeters, very porous and therefore light.
Shortly before 2:00 on February 18, the activity of lava fountains rapidly decreased and, simultaneously, the volcanic tremor amplitude and infrasonic signals almost disappeared.
As in the previous event, the lava flows, although no longer fed, still expanded downstream for a few hours. The main one reached a distance of 3.5-4 km at an altitude below 2000 m.
Apart from a few weak explosions and numerous collapses of incandescent material deposited on the flanks of the Southeast Crater in the hours following the paroxysm, the volcano has entered a state of relative calm, which persists at the time of publication of this Press Release.
Etna's activity is constantly monitored by the INGV Etna Observatory in Catania. Inspections are underway by the staff of the Etna Observatory in the affected area to take samples of the products emitted during today's paroxysm.
Around 1:00 on 18 February the eruptive activity intensified and the lava fountains appeared reaching heights of several hundred metres, with peaks between 600 and 700 m.
While the initial lava flow rapidly traveled more than 3 km, following the same path as the main flow of the February 16 paroxysm, several other, smaller lava flows poured down the northern, eastern and southeastern flanks of the Crater of South-East, reaching lengths of about one km. A further lava flow was formed, crossing the "mouth of the saddle" on the southern flank of the South-East Crater, spreading towards the south-west.
During the lava fountaining activity, a dense eruptive column of gas, ash and lapilli was formed, which rose a few kilometers above the top of the volcano to bend towards the southeast due to the strong wind. The fallout deposit of this eruptive column extends from the Zafferana Etnea–Fleri area up to Acireale, near the Ionian coast of Sicily, and is characterized by the presence of numerous lapilli of a few centimeters, very porous and therefore light.
Shortly before 2:00 on February 18, the activity of lava fountains rapidly decreased and, simultaneously, the volcanic tremor amplitude and infrasonic signals almost disappeared.
As in the previous event, the lava flows, although no longer fed, still expanded downstream for a few hours. The main one reached a distance of 3.5-4 km at an altitude below 2000 m.
Apart from a few weak explosions and numerous collapses of incandescent material deposited on the flanks of the Southeast Crater in the hours following the paroxysm, the volcano has entered a state of relative calm, which persists at the time of publication of this Press Release.
Etna's activity is constantly monitored by the INGV Etna Observatory in Catania. Inspections are underway by the staff of the Etna Observatory in the affected area to take samples of the products emitted during today's paroxysm.
YouTube INGV volcanoes:
Video Paroxysm at the South-East Crater of Etna, February 18, 2021