Science & Technology

Ten injured as Mount Etna erupts a third time

By T.K. Randall
March 16, 2017

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Officially one of the world's most active volcanoes, Mount Etna, which is situated in Sicily, stands at 10,922ft in height. It has been declared a "Decade Volcano" by the United Nations - one of only 16 worldwide worthy of ongoing study due to its history of violent and destructive eruptions.

Today the volcano was up to its old tricks once again, spewing magma 200 meters in to the sky and leaving bystanders running for cover as boulders and debris were hurled down on top of them.

At least ten people were believed to have been injured including members of a BBC film crew."Running down a mountain pelted by rocks, dodging burning boulders and boiling steam - not an experience I ever ever want to repeat," wrote BBC science correspondent Rebecca Morelle.

One volcanologist present at the time described the incident as the most dangerous he had ever experienced in more than 30 years of studying volcanoes.

"[It was a] reminder of how dangerous and unpredictable volcanoes can be," wrote Morelle.


Source: USA Today

Tags: Mount Etna