Strong Strombolian eruption, pyroclastic flow at Mount Etna, Italy
A sharp increase in volcanic tremor preceded a new Strombolian eruption at Mount Etna, Italy, early on June 2, 2025, with ash and SO2 clouds drifting southwest. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red at 03:32 UTC and downgraded to Orange at 06:39 UTC.
Ash plume rising from Mount Etna on the morning of June 2, 2025. Credit: Nadia Spina
Strong Strombolian activity occurred at Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater, Italy, during the early morning UTC hours of Monday, June 2.
The average amplitude of volcanic tremor has shown a gradual increase since 22:00 UTC on June 1, reaching high values by approximately 00:50 UTC on June 2.
The tremor’s centroid was localized near the Southeast Crater at an elevation of approximately 2.8 km (1.7 miles) above sea level.
Infrasonic activity showed a slight increase from around 00:30 UTC, centered in the summit crater area. A sudden change in monitored parameters was observed at 00:39 UTC on June 2, followed by visible Strombolian activity at the Southeast Crater at around 01:50 UTC.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etna Observatory (INGV-OE), raised the Aviation Color Code from Green to Yellow at 01:23 UTC, to Orange at 02:02 UTC, and finally to Red at 03:32 UTC, noting visible explosive activity and increasing seismic amplitude. The warning level was later downgraded to Orange at 06:39 UTC as the activity subsided.
Although no volcanic ash cloud was detected in initial satellite imagery, a cloud primarily composed of water vapor and sulfur dioxide (SO2) was observed drifting southwest. At 06:59 UTC, Toulouse VAAC noted a weak ash plume reaching 5.5 km (18 000 feet), with movement toward the southwest at approximately 20 km/h (12 mph).
Deformation signals from GNSS, clinometric, and strainmeter networks showed no significant variation during the event. The observed activity remains within Etna’s summit craters, with no reports of ashfall impacting surrounding communities.
Update
10:08 UTC, June 2
INGV-OE reports that surveillance camera images show a pyroclastic flow likely generated by the collapse of material on the northern flank of the Southeast Crater at 09:24 UTC. Preliminary observations suggest that the hot material did not extend beyond the edge of the Valle del Leone.
At the same time, explosive activity at the Southeast Crater transitioned into a lava fountain.
Volcanic tremor has reached very high levels, with the centroid of the tremor sources located in the area of the Southeast Crater. Infrasonic activity is also elevated, with events localized at the Southeast Crater.
The deformation signal from station DRUV continues the variation trend that began with the onset of activity. Other deformation monitoring networks do not currently show significant changes.
#Etna Collassa porzione del cratere, grosso flusso piroclastico pic.twitter.com/0KopQy0ZtY
— Local Team (@localteamit) June 2, 2025
The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red again at 09:18 UTC. The estimated volcanic cloud height is reaching 6.5 km (21 300 feet) and drifting toward WSW.
Videos shared on the social media platform X following the eruption showed people running for their lives as pyroclastic flow produced a thick column of ash. There are no reports of casualties.
#Etna @CNEWS @Le_Figaro @leJDD @Europe1
— Aurelien Pouzin (@aurelienpouzin) June 2, 2025
Fascinant pic.twitter.com/mp8tbcYhxl
#Etna 2025 suite de l’éruption pic.twitter.com/95sZiVHGbM
— Aurelien Pouzin (@aurelienpouzin) June 2, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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