According to signals detected by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania, there is a “high probability of the imminent occurrence of lava fountains” on Mount Etna. Consequently, the alert level has been raised to F1 on the Etnas system, prohibiting access to the volcano’s summit areas. The regional department of the Civil Protection agency announced the change in a Facebook post.
This alert mechanism is triggered automatically when software, monitoring specific parameters, signals to the INGV that pre-set thresholds have been exceeded. The system then sends an automatic message to the regional Civil Protection office. Using the Etnas system, the office alerts local authorities to close tourist access to all areas of the volcano above an altitude of 2,500 meters.