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.
Thick Saharan dust from North Africa covered parts of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and neighboring countries on March 4, 2026, producing hazy skies, orange deposits, and moderate-to-poor air quality. Forecasts show the plume spreading toward central Europe before dispersing after March 6.
Snow avalanches struck northern Italy and south-eastern France between February 7–8, 2026, killing at least 11 people across multiple Alpine locations. Italian authorities reported several fatalities in Trentino–Alto Adige and Lombardy, while French media confirmed deaths in the Hautes-Alpes. The incidents occurred during a period of elevated avalanche danger following recent snowfall and wind loading.
Over 1 500 people have been evacuated from the town of Niscemi after the impact of Storm Harry triggered a major coastal landslide on January 25, 2026 that has left hundreds of homes on the verge of collapse.
More than 1 000 people were evacuated in Niscemi, Sicily, on January 25, 2026, after a large landslide eroded away parts of a cliff. The event follows the devastating impact of Storm Harry, which caused over $1 billion in damage across Sicily between January 20 and 21.
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.
Extreme rainfall triggered widespread flooding and a fatal landslide in northern Italy on November 17, 2025, destroying homes in Brazzano di Cormons and causing extensive damage across the Gorizia area.
A lava overflow began from Stromboli’s northern crater area on November 13, 2025, sending a confined lava flow down the upper Sciara del Fuoco.
A lava overflow started from Stromboli’s North Crater area at around 10:00 UTC (11:00 LT) on November 9, 2025, feeding a lava flow on the upper Sciara del Fuoco. The activity, observed by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) through surveillance cameras, was accompanied by modest but continuous spattering from at least two vents in the North Crater area.
