Large blasts mark eruption of Mt. Etna

   

February 9, 2012 – ITALY -Tremor continues to rise (now at 13), from the webcam image, it seems a lava flow is starting to issue from the SE fracture. All indicators point towards we are having the 2nd paroxysm in 2012 during the next hours! The volcanic tremor is now steeply rising (at 8) and vigorous strombolian activity can be seen on the various webcams, possibly a lava flow has started as well. While strombolian activity continues from the New SE crater of Etna volcano, volcanic tremor has started to rise, suggesting a new paroxysm could be in the making in the next hours, although it is still early to be certain. The photo (left) from Boris Behncke was taken during the night of 7-8 February 2012, when the continuing strombolian activity of the New Southeast Crater on Etna was finally widely visible, after about one week of essentially bad weather. Some explosions threw incandescent lava bombs outside the crater, although most were rather weak and all material fell back into the crater. This is a view of one of the stronger explosions observed on the late evening of 7 February 2012, taken from Trecastagni village on the southeast flank of Etna. The activity continued, sometimes vigorously, sometimes more subdued, through the night and morning of 8 February. –Volcano Discovery