Once again this year, Mountain Etna has decided to give us wonderful spectacles with its eruptive activity. In particular, a predominantly effusive subterminal eruption began on Etna last February 8, fed by vents located at 3050 m a.s.l. This eruption was also accompanied episodically by Strombolian activity of moderate intensity.
2024 activity
Already last summer, Etna was showcased by a phase of Strombolian activity from the summit crater Voragine, which gave rise to striking lava fountains. Between July and August, the intensity increased to produce six paroxysmal episodes, with high lava fountains, lava overflows and eruptive columns laden with pyroclastic material.
Less explosive activity occurred later at the Northeast Crater. Finally, on November 10, 2024, an episode of intense explosive activity occurred in the Bocca Nuova – Voragine area, which produced a flow less than 400 meters long.
Since then, Etna has remained essentially in a state of equilibrium. At least until early February 2025.
The February eruption (2025)
Although in those days all signals recorded by the instrumental monitoring networks suggested that the volcano was in a quiet phase, on February 5 some faint dark ash emissions were observed from a point on the northwestern flank of the Southeast Crater, at the top of the old cone that had grown between the late 1970s and 2007. On the morning of Feb. 7, some small Strombolian explosions occurred from the high northwestern flank of the Southeast Crater.
But the real eruption occurred on Feb. 8 when, at the base of the steep southern slope of the Bocca Nuova Crater, a fissure opened with a few effusive mouths from which a lava flow directed toward the southwest emerged. During the effusive phase of this eruptive event, the flow reached and exceeded an altitude of 2,000 meters, even going so far as to interrupt Strada Altomontana.
Ash emission from the explosive vents on the Southeast Crater then increased on Feb. 14 and again on the 16th, producing light ash fallout on the southern and eastern sectors of Etna.
Lava spring (2025)
Etna was also well awake in late April 2025, when its Strombolian activity evolved into pulsating lava fountains reaching heights of 200 and 300 meters.
Interesting eruptive activity is also expected in May, which we are sure will create breathtaking scenery. And to admire up close – and in total safety – these beautiful natural spectacles, you can rely on EtnaWay’s exclusive tours, which will give you a truly unique experience.
