Paroxysm at Etna, 26 October 2013

On the morning of 26 October 2013, the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) of Etna has produced a new episode of lava fountaining (paroxysm), almost six months after the previous paroxysm. A column of gas charged with pyroclastic material rose several kilometers above the summit of the volcano and was then blown by the wind toward southwest, affecting population centers as far as the Caltanissetta area. Lava was emitted from the area of the "saddle" between the two cones of the Southeast Crater and advanced southward, destroying two wooden shacks at Torre del Filosofo; the lava then formed two lobes to the west and east of the 2002-2003 pyroclastic cone. Another, smaller, lava flow descended the southeast flank of the NSEC cone, partially filling the deep collapse scar formed during the 27 April 2013 paroxysm. At 08:19 GMT (=local time -2), vigorous ash emissions stared also at the Northeast Crater (NEC), forming a dark brown eruption column about 1 km tall; ash emission from that crater continued until the late evening. At the NSEC, the phase of lava fountaining continued until the late forenoon (GMT) and was followed by a long series of powerful explosions that produced loud detonations audible to many tens of kilometers away. In the evening, isolate Strombolian explosions occurred at the NSEC; slow movement of the lava flows was observed during the day of 27 October. A more detailed report will be posted here shortly.