June 2, 2025 – Sicily, Italy
Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, erupted overnight, sending massive plumes of ash and lava into the sky and prompting tourists and locals to flee the area.
The eruption began around 10 PM local time on June 1, following a series of volcanic tremors. By early morning, the activity escalated into nearly continuous Strombolian explosions, culminating in a dramatic lava fountain from the Southeast Crater.
Dramatic footage shared on social media shows tourists and hikers scrambling down the slopes as pyroclastic flows raced down the mountain. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse issued a brief “code red” alert for aviation due to the significant ash emission, later downgraded to orange as the ash cloud drifted southwest.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that the explosive activity from the Southeast Crater transitioned into lava fountains, with ashfall observed in areas such as Piano Vetore. No injuries have been reported, but officials remain on high alert as volcanic tremors continue.
Mount Etna, standing at approximately 3,403 meters, is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe and has a long history of frequent eruptions.
For a visual experience of the eruption, you can watch the following video:
