The second climax of La Voragine

Specifications by INGV Catania on what the Institute considers as the eruption " the most energetic of the past 20 years."

The second climax in less than thirty-six hours of the Voragine crater has culminated on Dec. 4, between 9 and 10 hours UTC. The eruption column rose to at least 7,000 meters above the crater, within the 10-15 minutes after the start of the paroxysmal phase.

The fungus that grew in altitude was photographed by the ISS and other satellites.
 

After 10 hours, the explosive activity gradually declined and gave way to sporadic ash emissions.

The climax of 4 December was accompanied by frequent ash emissions, brownish-gray color, within the newly opened pit crater on the upper eastern side of the new southeast crater, the NSEC.

The amplitude of the volcanic tremor remained high after the peak corresponding to the moment of climax; the amplitude when the climax is higher than that which characterized the climax of yesterday.
 

At nightfall, the Strombolian explosions continued sporadically to the Voragine and the pit crater of NSEC.

Coarse pyroclastic fell on the upper slopes of Mount Etna, southwest side, above 2,000 meters, and ash falls were reported on the East flank in the area of Giarre- Zafferana Etnea.

Several flights were diverted to airports of Catania, and in Italy, in Reggio di Calabria

On 5 december, the activity renew.

Sources :

- INGV Catania

- Radio studio 7; MeteoWeb; Etna il Vulcano; Etna Nord.