The Sicilian Etna volcano is growing at a rapid pace and has never been this big before

Etna was a particularly active period. More than 50 eruptions have been reported in the past six months. These were not always large eruptions, but also ash rain and lava jets. In any case, the numerous eruptions led to an “amazing transformation of the volcano,” INGV wrote in a press release.

The previous record height for the volcano dates back to 1981, when Etna’s southeastern crater – or its most active crater – was calculated to be 3,350 metres. After that, the volcano had to seriously lose its height due to the collapse. In 2018, for example, a height of only 3,326 meters was recorded. Three years later, the volcano made up for it with a height of 3,357 meters. Etna has never been this big before.

hampered performance

An active crater does not pose a great danger to the surrounding villages, but sometimes it causes some inconvenience. “Depending on the wind, the rumble of the volcano reaches the capital of the province of Catania and shakes the windows there,” said one of the residents. In addition, ash sometimes falls as if it were rain, after which the streets get dirty and crops are damaged. “But there’s also the spectacle, especially at night, when you see red plumes moving.”