Strong explosive eruption at Etna, Aviation Color Code raised to Red, Italy
A strong explosive eruption started at Mount Etna, Italy, at 09:30 UTC on February 12, 2025, prompting authorities to raise the Aviation Color Code from Orange to Red.
Eruption at Etna volcano, Italy on February 11, 2025. Credit: INGV, Boris Behncke
A strong explosive eruption started at Etna volcano, Italy at 09:30 UTC on Wednesday, February 12. As a result, the Aviation Color Code was raised from Orange to Red.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) is reporting the phenomenon is observed by their personnel on the field and by visible and thermal surveillance cameras.
The volcanic ash cloud is not estimable at this time, INGV said in the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) published at 09:30 UTC. A new VONA will be issued if conditions change significantly or the Aviation Color Code changes.
A new eruptive phase began at Etna on February 6, 2025, after approximately three months of variable degassing activity following the last lava fountaining event on November 10, 2024. The explosive activity commenced with modest and episodic Strombolian explosions from a vent on the western sector of the Southeast Crater (SEC).
The volcanic tremor amplitude was at a medium-low level until the evening of February 4, then increased to a medium-high level on February 5, remaining stable for the rest of the week. The tremor source was localized beneath the Southeast Crater at depths between 2 800 and 3 000 m (9 180 – 9 840 feet) above sea level.
On February 8, an effusive phase began from a fissure at the base of the Bocca Nuova crater, at approximately 3 050 m (10 000 feet) above sea level, producing a lava flow advancing southward toward Mount Frumento Supino.
Due to adverse weather conditions, INGV surveillance cameras first detected the lava emission at 17:35 UTC, though it may have begun earlier.
Field observations on February 8 confirmed that the lava flow was well-fed, and Strombolian activity persisted at the SEC.
By February 11, the lava flow had reached a length of 2 600 m (8 530 feet), with the most advanced front at 2 200 m (7 200 feet) elevation.
The lava field covered an area of approximately 130 000 m² (32 acres), with an estimated volume of 250 000 m³ (8.8 million ft3) — ±40% uncertainty.
No significant deformations were recorded by the high-frequency GNSS monitoring network during the past 7 days. Small variations were observed in clinometric data at Cratere del Piano (CDP) during the onset of summit effusive activity on February 8.
References:
1 VONA for Etna volcano – Etna Volcano Observatory – Issued at 09:30 UTC on February 12, 2025
2 Weekly Bulletin for Mount Etna for period Febraury 3 – 9, 2025 – INGV – February 11, 2025
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