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Posted on 10/27/2002 4:13:31 PM PST by blam
Europe's biggest volcano spews lava as earthquakes signal latest return to life
By Cahal Milmo
28 October 2002
Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, exploded into life again yesterday, spurting molten rock 650ft into the air above Sicily and producing streams of lava that engulfed small buildings on the island.
Officials evacuated the area in the path of the lava flows after a new vent opened early yesterday morning. There were no reports of injuries.
By late afternoon, the eruption had destroyed a line of ski-lift pylons used to reach the summit, as well as a pine forest. Firefighting aircraft with water supplies were sent to try to slow the lava flow.
The airport at Catania – Sicily's second-largest city, which lies at the base of the mountain – was expected to remain closed until at least this morning after clouds of ash fell on it.
Residents were first alerted by a series of small earthquakes that were felt along the east coast of the island. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said more than 100 tremors, up to 3.5 on the Richter scale, struck. The epicentre was located close to the main crater.
More than 15 hours after the first eruptions, a large mushroom-shaped cloud still hung over the summit as municipal workers in Catania once more got down to removing thick layers of ash. Officials insisted that the city's population of 330,000 was in no danger.
The volcano, which at 10,900ft is Europe's highest, sent streams of magma high into the air before three tongues of lava emerged from fissures at a height of about 8,200ft.
The heaviest flow was moving towards Piano Provenzana, an area popular with tourists for walking and skiing. Power lines and a ski school, as well as ski pylons, were engulfed before the lava destroyed a mountain lodge.
October 27 2002 at 06:23PM
Catania, Italy - Rivers of boiling lava poured down Mount Etna on Sunday, ploughing over ski-lifts and surrounding a mountain restaurant after a series of earthquakes aggravated Europe's most active volcano.
Pine trees caught fire almost instantly as the heat of the lava engulfed them and the stench of sulphur filled the air as cracks opened up in the ground, witnesses said.
Civil protection officials in Catania, which sits in Etna's shadow, called a crisis meeting and were preparing to send water-carrying planes into the skies to try to bring the fires under control.
The eruptions began in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after a series of small earthquakes shook the eastern edge of Sicily and parts of mainland Italy.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said more than 100 tremors measuring 1,1 to 3,5 on the Richter scale struck the region, with the epicentre just 1,5km south-east of the centre of Etna's crater.
The volcano, Europe's highest at 3,350 metres, pumped out huge dark clouds of ash and spurted streams of boiling magma 100 to 200 metres into the air.
More than 10 hours after the first eruptions, an immense mushroom-shaped cloud still hung over the mountain top, and in Catania, city workers were sweeping thick layers of ash from the streets.
Italy's ANSA news agency reported three tongues of lava snaking down the mountain from fissures at a height of around 2,300 to 2,500 metres. Cracks were also found at about 1,500 metres, but no lava activity was reported at that altitude.
The heaviest flow was descending on Piano Provenzana, a popular area for tourists to take mountain walks in summer and for skiing and other activities in the winter.
The flow pushed over ski-lift pylons, knocked down power lines and swallowed a ski-school hut before surrounding an empty mountain restaurant. Officials said no one was injured.
Etna is almost constantly rumbling, but has not produced any serious activity since a series of eruptions in July and August last year, which experts described as one of the most erratic and complex displays in 300 years.
REUTERS Reut 15:37 10-27-02
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