The trail of indignant comments over the images shared by Diletta Leotta is becoming as long as the lava flows that are fascinating Sicilians and tourists in recent days. The controversy exploded in the last few hours following the publication of a post on social media in which the TV presenter of Catania origins shows herself with the eruption of Etna behind her.
View this post on Instagram
“I find the “fashion pose” a bit idiotic, as if you were at Milan Fashion Week and instead behind it there is a phenomenon of nature manifesting itself” someone points out. “But what’s the point of these photos? Sorry, but you’re ridiculous” writes someone else, while another user highlights: “I don’t think it’s a great example to set, taking photos near a volcano and its flow in progress, and without the right clothes”.
At first glance from the images, Diletta Leotta seems to be a few meters from the lava, but this is an optical effect of the photo, as can be better understood from the video taken with the drone. A top and jeans are certainly not among the most suitable clothing items for an excursion to the volcano, but Diletta Leotta is none other than one of the many people who are flocking to Etna these days to see this spectacular eruption live and take home the perfect shot.
The problem is not the presenter’s shots, but the fact that the largest active volcano in Europe – where mouths continue to open – is turning into an amusement park, where concepts such as prudence and respect for nature are often forgotten. Since the recent eruptive activity began, there has been a lot of cars coming and going along the roads leading to the high-altitude refuges. And in some cases those who set out to see the eruption do so without asking questions, without boots and adequate clothing or torches: a lack of preparation that can endanger the lives of those who venture out but also force emergency services to intervene.
Just a couple of days ago, two 20-year-olds were rescued from Etna by the Alpine Rescue Service after they lost their bearings and ended up in an inaccessible area. An episode that makes an issue that is often forgotten in the face of spectacular images circulating on social media much more concrete: imprudent behavior does not necessarily only put those who commit it in difficulty, but can require the intervention of specialized teams called to operate at night and on difficult terrain.
The real problem is our connection with nature
Etna is not a theme park and a lava flow is not an installation created to provide the perfect backdrop for a photograph. It is one of the most active and monitored volcanoes in the world, as well as representing a precious ecosystem of rare beauty. INGV recalls that Etna’s activity – which is causing great inconvenience to those traveling by plane – can affect both the summit craters and its sides and that the volcanic system is characterized by extremely complex activity. The charm of observing a live eruption is understandable, but if you want to experience an excursion you should turn to expert guides and do it with awareness and the right equipment.
Reduce everything to the question “Could Diletta Leotta dress differently?” he therefore risks losing sight of the point. Those photographs went viral because they perfectly condense the contemporary relationship with spectacular natural events: when faced with something exceptional, the first impulse is increasingly often to get closer, photograph it and transform it into potentially viral content.
And Etna, with its lava fountains, the red-lit sky and the flows visible at night, offers an irresistible scenery (which I am lucky enough to admire from a safe distance from the balcony of the town where I live). However, let’s not make the mistake of forgetting that it remains an active volcano – with a series of risks that should not be underestimated – which we cannot transform into a simple set for a shooting. Etna must be admired, loved, but above all respected and never challenged.
