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Sudden strong explosion at Stromboli volcano, Italy

sudden-strong-explosion-at-stromboli-volcano-italy

A strong explosion occurred at Stromboli volcano, Italy at 14:04 UTC on Monday, October 23, 2017, ejecting bombs on a vast area around the crater. There were no people near the volcano at the time of the explosion and there are no reports of damage or injuries. 

"An ash plume of several hundred meters was produced during the eruption and quickly dissipated," Volcano Discovery reports.

"Bombs were landing on a vast area around the crater terrace including the viewing area on Pizzo, but fortunately, it seems that no people were there at the time of the eruption," VD added.

"It appears that there were no significant precursors to the event which illustrates that even during periods of relatively low activity, Stromboli volcano can be dangerous."

Stromboli eruption on October 23, 2017

Stromboli eruption on October 23, 2017

INGV reported that during June 22 – 26, 2017 explosions at the N1 vent, one of two vents that comprise Stromboli’s N Area, ejected material as high as 200 m (656 feet) above the vent. Explosive activity at the second vent, N2, ejected tephra 150 m (492 feet) high that fell within the crater terrace as well as beyond the crater rim.

Intense spattering at N2 was noted on June 26. Explosions from the N Area vents occurred at a rate of 10 – 14 events per hour. Vent C in the CS Area discontinuously puffed, and spattering also occurred on June 26. Explosions from the S1 vents (also part of the CS Area) ejected tephra 150 m (492 feet) high. Explosions from the CS Area occurred between 5 and 10 events per hour.

Geological summary

Spectacular incandescent nighttime explosions at this volcano have long attracted visitors to the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean."

Stromboli, the NE-most of the Aeolian Islands, has lent its name to the frequent mild explosive activity that has characterized its eruptions throughout much of historical time. The small, 924-m-high (3 031 feet) island is the emergent summit of a volcano that grew in two main eruptive cycles, the last of which formed the western portion of the island.

The Neostromboli eruptive period from about 13 000 to 5 000 years ago was followed by formation of the modern Stromboli edifice. The active summit vents are located at the head of the Sciara del Fuoco, a prominent horseshoe-shaped scarp formed about 5 000 years ago as a result of the most recent of a series of slope failures that extend to below sea level.

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The modern volcano has been constructed within this scarp, which funnels pyroclastic ejecta and lava flows to the NW. Essentially continuous mild strombolian explosions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded for more than a millennium. (GVP)

Featured image: Explosion at Stromboli volcano, Italy on October 23, 2017. Credit: INVG Catania via Volcano Discovery

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