The effusive vent located at 2,980 meters on Mount Etna has resumed feeding a lava flow propagating in a south-westerly direction. Eruptive activity continues from a vent at 3,100 meters, which is supplying a lava field to the south-west, and from another vent at 3,200 meters on the southern flank of the South-East Crater, which is feeding a lava field formed by multiple branches directed south-west and south.
Strombolian activity persists at the South-East Crater, with pyroclastic products falling outside the crater rim. Sporadic and weak emissions of volcanic ash are also observed at the same crater, which are rapidly dispersed by high-altitude winds. This data comes from surveys conducted by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Etna Observatory, in Catania.
From a seismic perspective, after a phase of decline noted in the previous update, the average amplitude of volcanic tremor began to gradually increase again from approximately 23:30 yesterday, remaining within the range of high values. The source of the tremor remains located in the area of the South-East Crater at an altitude of about 3,000 meters above sea level. While maintaining a discontinuous trend, infrasonic activity shows a moderate decrease since the early hours of today. These events, characterized by low and medium amplitude, are localized at the South-East Crater.
Ground deformation signals recorded by the GNSS and tiltmeter networks currently show no significant variations.
The INGV Catania’s data is further confirmed by an on-site inspection carried out by personnel from the regional forestry corps. From the ‘Etna Sud’ area, they observed the new path established by alpine and volcanological guides, which fully respects the boundary of the permanent danger ‘yellow zone’ that must not be crossed. The route was designed to avoid passage beneath the South-East Crater.
During the inspection, it was verified that the flow of tourist hikers proceeded regularly, always under the supervision of authorized guides. However, three individuals who had reached the area of the lava flow without the assistance of guides were identified, in violation of safety provisions.