Summary of all Mount Etna eruptions that took place on May 2021. Etna gives a show with nights of intense volcanic activity, alternating Strombolian activity and lava fountains with small emissions of lava flows. Several paroxysms, of spectacular magnitude, have affected the South-East crater from which a lava flow has also emerged. The new eruptive phase of Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, was of particular beauty, setting the nights on fire with magnificent lava fountains, a phenomenon visible from several kilometers away.

Mount Etna eruptions May 2021

Mount Etna, fiery nights

These new eruptions are constantly monitored by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology of Catania. The various paroxysmal phases, which began with Strombolian activity (explosions and the emission of shreds of lava and ash) began from the South-East crater.

The amplitude of the values ​​of the volcanic tremor, which detects the energy in the internal magma conduits, have meant that spectacular lava fountains have affected the area adjacent to the crater with launches of incandescent magma about 500-600 meters above the rim of the crater; and with an overflow of lava along the South-East flank, which descends to the summit area in the South-West direction.

These eruptive phenomena were also followed by the emission of ash that fell in neighboring cities and over the sea. The energy released by the highest active volcano in Europe was of particular beauty in the nights of May with spectacular eruptions visible from great distances. In many towns, the new cleaning and collection of volcanic ash has already begun.

The eruptive activity of Etna did not impact the operations of the Vincenzo Bellini international airport in Catania.

Discover our proposals for excursions on Mount Etna volcano.

New Strombolian eruption on Mount Etna that occurred during the night of 13 December 2020. A new eruption from the South East crater began on the volcano. The lava flow during the night was visible from a great distance, amid particularly strong volcanic rumbles and tremors. Following are the latest details collected by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etneo Observatory. Known in acronym as INGV, it is the Italian research institute responsible for the study of geophysical and volcanological phenomena and the management of the respective national monitoring networks for seismic and volcanic phenomena.

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