Etna inaugurates 2026 with a somewhat unusual and unexpected eruption, which is surprising curious people and experts. Since yesterday afternoon, eruptive activity has been underway affecting the desert Valle del Bove and the lava has continued to flow for hours, putting on a spectacle. As INGV Vulcani reports, the most advanced front has reached an altitude of approximately 1420 meters above sea level to the east of the Rocca Musarra relief, while the maximum extension of the lava field is approximately 2.8 km.
Here we report some images of the lava meeting the white snow, which we immortalized last night from Riposto (in the province of Catania).
The photos of the flow at a rather lower altitude than usual have raised some concern, but neither the inhabited centers nor the infrastructures are currently in danger.
Thus began this silent lateral eruption, which is fueling a very spectacular lava flow, which, seen from the lower eastern slope of Etna, seems incredibly low and close to the towns (which would be Milo and Fornazzo). – clarifies INGV volcanologist Boris Behncke. – For now, fortunately this is not the case, from the most advanced front there are about 5 km to Fornazzo and 5.5 km to Milo, distances that are not so easily overcome once a lava flow has already made its way upstream. The beginning of the eruption was not seen either by the inhabitants of Etna or by the INGV and private cameras, because the eastern flank was surrounded by dense cloud cover. Only at dusk was a strong glow evident in the images of some webcams, including that of the INGV in Vulcano!
Activate precautionary measures
In light of the situation, the Etna municipality of Milo Municipality of Milo has adopted an ordinance regulating and prohibiting access from the Pietracannone road, a branch of the SP Mareneve.
“Access is permitted exclusively with qualified volcanological guides, in groups of no more than 10 people, equipped with suitable technical equipment and radio communication systems. Prohibition starting from dusk” reads the Civil Protection press release, which explains that the situation is subject to constant monitoring.
Furthermore, the regional department of Civil Protection invited the mayors of Sant’Alfio and Zafferana Etnea to adopt ordinances to regulate the flow of hikers on Etna, limiting access.
Sources: INGV/Civil Protection
