Major explosion at Stromboli volcano, Italy

A major explosion took place at Stromboli volcano, Italy 13:24 UTC on September 29, 2022, from its North crater area.

Volcanic material fell abundantly along the entire length of Sciara del Fuoco, while there was no significant fall of coarse material in the Lace area.

The amplitude of the volcanic tremor remained at high levels for about 6 to 7 minutes.

There were no significant changes in other parameters and deformation signals.

All parameters returned to normal levels at 19:36 UTC.¹

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.

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.²

References:

¹ VOLCANIC ACTIVITY REPORT FOR STROMBOLI – INGV-OE – September 29, 2022

² Stromboli – Geological summary – GVP