Tourists flee as Etna erupts however Sicilian authorities say no risk to local population.
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, erupted spectacularly on Monday, emitting a massive plume of ash several kilometres into the sky and sending tourists fleeing.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that volcanic tremors began late on Sunday night, gradually intensifying and peaking in the early hours of Monday morning.
The powerful outburst, caused by the partial collapse of the southeast crater, prompted the temporary evacuation of tourists from the summit area.
A powerful eruption of Mount Etna sent tourists running as a huge ash plume rose into the sky on Monday. pic.twitter.com/U7dJTUoKO7
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) June 2, 2025
The eruption also triggered a “code red” aviation alert however this was later downgraded and as of Tuesday morning the nearby Catania was still in operation.
Eyewitnesses captured dramatic footage of thick ash clouds billowing from the summit on Monday, with viral video footage showing tourists scrambling for safety down the mountainside.
Authorities on the Italian island confirmed that the volcanic activity remained largely confined to the summit area and posed no immediate widespread danger to the local population.
