10 People Injured By Italy’s Mount Etna Volcano Explosion
Hurling molten rocks and lava during the volcano explosion on Italy’s Mount Etna injured at least 10 people on Thursday (March 16, 2017).
Tourists, scientists, and journalists were fearfully running away from the erupting volcano to escape the barrage. Mt. Etna caused a phreatic explosion that rained rock and magma upon the people observing the active volcano.
The volcano explosion injured a BBC journalist and camera woman who’s filming the explosion of steam followed by the explosion of boiling rocks. The second explosion frightened the observers of the active volcano and causing them to run away from the eruption.
There are about 35 tourists on the volcano when the explosion happened around noontime. The guides accompanied and brought the tourists in a safe place, according to the authorities.
Umberto Marino, president of the Italian Alpine Club chapter in Catania said that people began to run in his direction while he was about to go up to the volcano.
The eruption threw materials, which strikes the head and bodies of the people close to the area. 4 people including 3 German tourists were immediately brought to the hospital after suffering from head injuries.
“The material thrown into the air fell back down, striking the heads and bodies of people who were closest,” said by Marino quoted by Inquirer.
The explosion covered around 2, 700 meters above sea level, putting the tourists about 500 meters below the base of Mt. Etna’s newest Southeast crater, where the lava flow started, according to Italy’s volcanology institute.
Boris Behncke of Italy’s volcanology institute and Rebecca Morelle were now doing fine after being physically injured by the eruption. Morelle explained to the public the possible danger can cause by volcano explosions.
On Wednesday (March 15, 2017), a new lava flow was spotted in the southeastern crater with a temperature above 1, 832 degrees Fahrenheit after throwing lava and ash into the air. The explosion happened in an area covered by snow.
In 2002, Mt. Etna injured 32 people when lava hits the water in a similar phreatic explosion. Also, in 1979 Etna’s eruption killed nine tourists standing beside the volcano’s rim.
The tourists who experienced the volcano explosion on Thursday were in a permitted zone together with a guide. The situation of Mt. Etna was still monitoring by the volcanology institute.
