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ETNA UPDATE, 30 DECEMBER 2013, 00:50 GMT

On the evening of 29 December 2013, the Strombolian activity at Etna's New Southeast Crater (NSEC) progressively intensified, with fequent powerful explosions from two vents located within the crater, which are accompanied by loud detonations audible in a vast sector around the volcano. Contemporaneously, two lava flows are active, one issuing from a vent on the eastern flank of the NSEC cone, whereas the other is fed directly from the crater down the northeast flank of the cone. The explosive activity generates a diluted ash plume, which is blown by the wind toward northeast. The volcanic tremor amplitude is rising, although so far it has not reached the levels characteristic for a typical episode of lava fountaining.

Further updates will be timely provided.

ETNA UPDATE, 29 DECEMBER 2013, 09:20 GMT

In the early morning hours of 29 December 2013, the high-sensitivity visul monitoring camera of the INGV-Osservatorio Etneo on the Montagnola (EMOH) showed the appearance of weak and sporadic glows at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) of Etna. There were no visible ejections of pyroclastic materal or ash, and no anomaly was recorded by the thermal cameras at the Montagnola (EMOT) and at Monte Cagliato (EMCT). Strong, pulsating degassing is continuing meanwhile at the Northeast Crater.

At 10:15 GMT (=local time -1) on 29 December, the NSEC produced a single Strombolian explosion accompanied by ash emission, which formed a plume about 1 km tall and was blown by the wind toward east. After the explosion, mild Strombolian activity continued, which was confined to the interior of the crater, and was accompanied also by infrasonic activity and a slight increase of the volcanic tremor amplitude.

The current wind direction is toward east-southeast.

The NSEC has remained in a state of quiescence since the cessation of its latest paroxysmal eruptive episode (14-16 December); during a helicopter overflight on 28 December 2013, the crater floor was partially covered with snow and only weak fumarolic activity was occurring on the northern, western and southern crater rims.

The volcanic tremor amplitude remains low, similar to the values recorded during the past week.

Further updates will be timely provided.