Etna erupting, lava flowing - the images just steps from the flow

The Etna volcano has opened a new eruptive vent in the Valley of Bove, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) Observatory Etneo. The event occurred around 11:30 Saturday morning at an elevation of approximately 2,550 meters, near Mount Rittmann. The activity was accompanied by the formation of two minor pyroclastic flows generated by the collapse and rapid movement of disturbed material during the vent’s creation. This produced a lava field with its leading edge reaching around 2,100 meters. From a seismic perspective, over the past 24 hours, the tremor amplitude has shown a gradual slight decrease, remaining within high-value ranges. Tremor locations remain confined near the Voragine crater at an elevation of roughly 3,000 meters above sea level. The current eruptive phase has slowed, leading to the reopening of airspace areas corresponding to the volcanic cloud to the south-west of the volcano and the resumption of all flight operations departing from and arriving at Catania Airport with immediate effect. The INGV had previously issued a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA), reducing the alert level from red to orange. Monitoring revealed that explosive activity is decreasing, with only a weak emission of ash whose fall is confined to the summit area, while there are still lava flows in the desolate valleys of Bove and Leone. At least three vents in the upper area of Etna, located between the Voragine and Southeast craters, are showing eruptive activity. The vent that opened last night in the Valley of Leone, at an estimated elevation of around 2,750 meters, remains active and feeds a complex lava flow. Its active front, after passing Monte Simone, has settled around 1,850 meters. The eruption has impacted the operational status of Catania Airport, with flights suspended until 7 PM local time. The airport authority, SAC, confirmed that the closure of airspace sectors related to the volcanic cloud to the south-west led to the suspension of arrival and departure flights. Meanwhile, flights departing from the airport using runway 08 have been allowed to proceed normally. Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with airlines before heading to the airport. The ongoing explosive activity of Etna continues, with the Voragine crater emitting ash and lava. High columns of smoke continue to rise from the north side of the volcano, resulting in prolonged flight suspensions at Catania Airport. A new eruptive vent was reported to have opened during the night between Monday and Tuesday in the Valley of Bove, at an estimated elevation of around 1,900 meters, near Monte Simone. The eruptive activity has affected the airport's operations even on Monday, forcing the suspension of arrivals and departures. According to the INGV, the newly opened vent in the Valley of Bove shows signs of continued activity, with monitoring indicating that the seismic tremors have gradually decreased in amplitude but remain within high-value ranges. The infrasound activity has remained moderate in both number and intensity of events, with locations consistent with the Voragine crater. GNSS and clinometric networks show no significant variations. The stations of the clinometric network continue to measure the trend variation initiated on August 6, which was already noted in previous reports. The eruption has caused disruptions in air travel, with hundreds of flights canceled. According to reports, approximately 700 flights were affected, with some flights delayed or canceled due to the volcanic ash affecting visibility and safety conditions. The situation remains under close observation, with experts noting that the recent activity suggests changes in internal dynamics of the volcano, potentially influencing future eruptions for years to come.