Silke Jasso
Scientists, tourists and a BBC crew team were among 10 people injured after being caught up in a “violent explosion” on Thursday night on the erupting volcano Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. The blast was caused when the fast-moving lava traveled across snow, creating high-pressure pockets of steam. None of the injuries were serious, but several of those wounded were treated at a nearby hospital.
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The BBC’s Rebecca Morelle, who was present, reported on the incident in a series of tweets, noting that everyone who was rescued, including the BBC team, guides and a 78-year-old woman, are okay.
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“Caught up in incident at Mount Etna – bbc crew & tourists caught up in huge explosion – caused injuries and evacuation from scene,” she wrote. “Many injured – some head injuries, burns, cuts and bruises. Volcanologist said most dangerous incident experience in his 30 year career.”
Caught up in incident at Mount Etna – bbc crew & tourists caught up in huge explosion – caused injuries and evacuation from scene. (1)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Lava flow mixed with steam – caused huge explosion – group pelted with boiling rocks and steam. (2)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Many injured – some head injuries, burns, cuts and bruises. Volcanologist said most dangerous incident experience in his 30 year career (3)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Incident could have been worse – explosions like this have killed – but seems minor injuries for now. (4)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Bbc team all ok – some cuts/ bruises and burns. Very shaken though – it was extremely scary. (5)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Should re-iterate – we are all ok – people brought off mountain quickly by the excellent rescue team (6)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Just confirmed – everyone taken off the mountain ok – rescue team and guides here were brilliant. We're heading down mountain now
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Reminder of how dangerous & unpredictable volcanoes can be – everyone had a very lucky escape. (7)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Running down a mountain pelted by rocks, dodging burning boulders and boiling steam – not an experience I ever ever want to repeat (8)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
An estimated 8 injuries logged by medical team here. An amazing 78 year old lady was very close – but safely got away (10)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
“When the lava flows over a lot of snow at high speed, it can trap the snow underneath,” Marco Neri, a volcanologist at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, said. “The snow then melts into water, then becomes vapor, and the pressure on the cap made of lava eventually leads to an explosion called phreatic eruption. This is what happened in this case.”
He added that the explosion “threw pieces of lava in the air, and 10 people in the area were hit and injured, none seriously.”
According to the BBC, Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and spewed lava into the sky on Thursday for the third time in three weeks.
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