VOLCANO PLANET

A paroxysm occurred on Etna's Voragine crater during the early hours of the morning. This followed some intense strombolian activity which had begun during the previous evening and had gradually grown in intensity. The paroxysm reached it's climax during 3:20-4:10am local time when a high lava fountain reached a height of more than 1km above the crater. The eruption plume drifted to the northeast causing ashfall in Linguaglossa, Francavilla di Sicilia, Milazzo, Messina, and Reggio di Calabria. At dawn the eruption almost ceased although weak ash emissions were reported in the Voragine and Northeast craters, and also the small pit craters which recently opened up on the high part of the New Southeast Crater.

Huge paroxysm from the Voragine crater of Etna last night. SOURCE: Marco Restivo

Etna paroxysm last night from another perspective. SOURCE: Luca La Manna.