Mount Etna Erupts With Continuous Lava Fountain, Ash Cloud in Sicily

Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano located in Sicily, erupted on June 2, 2025, with nearly continuous strombolian explosions that intensified throughout the morning. The eruption produced a lava fountain from the Southeast Crater and a pyroclastic flow, leading to a thick, several-kilometer-high eruptive cloud composed mainly of water vapor and sulfur dioxide, although no significant volcanic ash cloud was initially detected. The volcanic tremor, which began the night before, peaked beneath the crater area early Monday morning, prompting Italian authorities to raise the aviation color code to red temporarily before lowering it to orange as a precaution for air traffic. Despite the dramatic visuals of smoke plumes and explosions that caused concern among tourists, there were no immediate reports of risk to the local population, which is accustomed to Etna's frequent activity. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology closely monitored the eruption and confirmed the ongoing explosive activity and lava flows. Authorities warned pilots about the potential hazards posed by volcanic ash, which can damage aircraft, though ashfall was reported only as light and thin in nearby areas.