Etna awakens
CATANIA, SICILY
ITALY
Mount Etna has done it again. In February, Europe’s most active volcano erupted, releasing an estimated 40 million cubic metres of volcanic material and a 1,500- metre-high ash cloud.
“It’s Etna’s largest eruption since 2000 – and is very, very spectacular,” says Boris Behncke, a volcanologist at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics. But while apocalyptic in appearance, the 3,300m-high volcano poses little danger to the local population and buildings (including the Mother Church of Belpasso, pictured). Etna’s magma stream cools and solidifies well before reaching any towns. And unless crushed into dust by vehicles, any ash is too large to inhale.
“The volcano’s regular eruptions are relatively safe and normal,” says Becker. “In fact, the ash can be a valuable resource, used as a fertiliser…