An impulsive explosion from the Bocca Nuova crater at Mount Etna, Italy, generated a short-lived ash emission at 13:12 LT (12:12 UTC) on March 4, 2026. Surveillance cameras recorded the ash plume dispersing quickly toward the eastern side of the volcano. The eruption followed an earthquake swarm on Mount Etna’s southwestern flank earlier in the day, which included a notable ML4.5 earthquake.
Two paroxysmal eruptions occurred at Mount Etna’s Northeast Crater on December 27, 2025, marking the first major eruptive episode from this crater in almost 28 years. The events produced lava fountains up to 500 m (1 640 feet), eruptive columns rising over 10 km (6 miles) above sea level, and a short lava flow from the nearby Voragine Crater. Activity gradually declined by December 28, with continued strombolian explosions and weak effusion.
Etna’s eruptive activity intensified rapidly between December 24 and 27, 2025, culminating in short-lived lava fountains about 200 m (650 feet) high and a new lava flow from the upper Voragine crater toward the Valle del Bove. INGV Etna Observatory (OE) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red on December 27 as tremor and infrasound amplitudes reached very high levels.
Strombolian activity and lava flows continue at Etna’s Southeast Crater, with new vents opening on the southern flank. On August 25, the Aviation Color Code was briefly raised to Red following intensified eruptive activity.
New lava flow from Mount Etna’s summit is advancing along the southern flank, reaching an elevation of about 2 270 m (7 450 feet). The most advanced front is now located about 2 km (1.24 miles) from the Altamontana trail, a major access route used for monitoring and hiking, following effusion that began on August 9, 2025.
A new lava vent has opened between Bocca Nuova and Southeast Crater on Mount Etna, Italy, at an elevation of about 2 980 m (9 777 feet), producing a steady lava flow and explosive activity at Southeast Crater.
An explosive eruption from Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater was observed at 04:33 UTC on June 19, 2025, sending ash up to 6 000 m (19 700 feet) and producing lava overflows toward Valle del Leone. As a result the Aviation Code was raised to Red.
Footage captured on June 2, 2025, shows people fleeing as an eruption at Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater produces pyroclastic flow and an ash plume up to 6.5 km (21 325 feet).
A sharp increase in volcanic tremor preceded a new Strombolian eruption at Mount Etna, Italy, early on June 2, 2025, with ash and SO2 clouds drifting southwest. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red at 03:32 UTC and downgraded to Orange at 06:39 UTC.
Strombolian activity at Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater evolved into lava fountaining on April 30, 2025, producing ash emissions and prompting a temporary elevation of the Aviation Color Code to Red. This was the 11th eruptive episode at Etna since March 15.
