Etna Volcano Eruption Forces Hikers to Evacuate Amid Ash and Gas Plumes

Tourists on the Italian island of Sicily were forced to evacuate the slopes of Mount Etna on Monday after the volcano, one of Europe’s largest and most active, erupted, sending clouds of gas, rock, and ash high into the atmosphere.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported. However, videos circulating on social media showed hikers struggling to descend as thick smoke columns billowed overhead. Additionally, over 20 percent of flights arriving at the nearby Catania airport experienced delays, according to an aviation tracking company. Authorities have assured the public that there is no danger to nearby residents.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology released a statement confirming that the explosions were confined to the summit area, which remains closed to visitors, describing the activity as "strong intensity." Later updates indicated that volcanic activity for the day had ceased.

Sicily, a favored tourist destination, welcomes millions of visitors annually, with Mount Etna alone attracting over a million tourists each year. In recent years, local authorities have increased efforts to manage reckless visitors unaware of the dangers posed by close proximity to the island’s most prominent landmark. Etna is a stratovolcano characterized by steep slopes and nearly continuous activity from its main craters, with frequent lava flows emanating from vents and fissures along its flanks. A major eruption had occurred as recently as February.

English tourists Hannah and Charlie Camper were vacationing approximately 16 kilometers east of the volcano’s central crater when smoke columns began to emerge near the summit.

The couple were aware of previous eruptions but believed they would be "completely safe" given the volcano’s constant activity, Hannah said in a WhatsApp message. They were uncertain about how to respond if the situation worsened and did not receive any emergency alerts on their phones. After recording video footage, they quickly sought shelter and started searching online for safety advisories.

"We were expecting to hear some kind of warning, but nothing came even as the smoke grew thicker and moved toward us," she added. "At one point, we saw lava flowing down the volcano’s side."

Sicily, which gained recent popularity as the setting for the second season of the hit series The White Lotus, has seen increasing tourist numbers despite facing challenges such as heatwaves, wildfires, and water shortages.