Mount Etna’s new eruption appears to have begun in the early afternoon of June 26, 2026, when a slow lava flow began moving toward the Valle del Leone from a fracture that opened around 3,000 meters at the base of the Northeast Crater. Volcanology guides wrote on social media that “it appears to be advancing steadily but relatively slowly due to its high viscosity. The lava front is engulfing and covering the ground along its path, while volcanic gases and incandescent material continue to be emitted from the fracture. Over the course of the hours, the flow tends to channel into natural depressions, and for the moment, activity remains concentrated along the eruptive fissure, while Etna’s summit cone continues to emit plumes of steam and ash.”

Eruption: INGV statement

The INGV, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, has issued the official statement with further technical details, explaining that “effusive activity has begun in the upper Valle del Leone, upper Valle del Bove, as detected by field observations by INGV personnel. The activity is producing a small lava flow, currently weakly fed. It should also be noted that during the night, weak and irregular explosive Strombolian activity occurred at the Voragine crater. From a seismic perspective, a constant increase in volcanic tremor has been observed for several days, the sources of which are currently located at the Voragine crater at an altitude of approximately 2,900 meters above sea level. Infrasonic activity is localized at the Northeast crater, and the amplitude and number of events are medium. No significant variations have been detected in the time series of the ground deformation monitoring stations.”

Still weakly fueled

Volcanology guide Antonio De Luca, owner of the social media page Passione Etna, completed the information by adding that “the eruption appears to be weakly fueled, but it often happens that the fuel is weak in the initial phase and then increases in the following days. This type of eruption usually lasts from a few days to several months, with significant variations during the period of activity. There is no risk to residential areas; at the moment, there are no clear signs that the activity is moving lower, but it will be constantly monitored by the INGV, which has already published the first updates.

Use extreme caution and always follow the guides’ instructions. Both the vents and the lava fronts are located in an extremely inaccessible area and difficult to reach for those with little experience. Another risk during this period is thunderstorms, which form within a few dozen minutes during the hottest part of the day and can discharge large amounts of lightning, especially in open, unsheltered areas like this one.”

Is there a connection with the Voragine crater?

In recent days, a large crack was noticed at the top of the Voragine crater, currently the highest point on Etna (it reached 3,400 meters). The crack extends from the crater and descends along the right flank, also forming a curve. Everything suggested it would soon collapse, or collapse and disperse into the Valle del Bove. However, the current eruption did not originate from the Voragine.

So, is there a connection? It doesn’t seem so at the moment. It could be a completely independent phenomenon, which, however, could also “stimulate” the Voragine in the next few hours and trigger a paroxysm. Or it could simply fizzle out without causing any damage, merely providing a fascinating nighttime spectacle. The eruptive fracture from which the lava is flowing opened near the so-called “2014 vents.”

The 2014 eruption

The 2014 eruption was actually a series of events that punctuated that entire year. The vents referred to here are those of the third event, between July 5th and August 10th: initially, an eruptive fracture opened at the eastern base of the Northeast Crater (NEC), which remained active until August, with several vents, the most active of which rose, forming a scoria cone.

The other episodes of that year included “a period of modest Strombolian activity and lava flow emission at the NSEC, which began on January 21 and ended around April 7. Between January 22 and March 26, persistent activity was recorded at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC), with Strombolian explosions and occasional episodes of weak lava fountaining. On February 11, a portion of the cone collapsed, and a cloud of pyroclastic material poured into the Valle del Bove. Furthermore, a period of intense Strombolian activity at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC), accompanied by a lava overflow toward the southeast, occurred between June 14 and 18″ (etnafriends.it).

Where can you admire the new eruption?

The best vantage points for this new eruption accessible by car are all the towns on the eastern slope from Acireale to Taormina, but in particular, it’s from Milo, Sant’Alfio, Giarre, and along the Mareneve road (climbing from Fornazzo di Milo) that you can take frontal, more spectacular photos.

Always remember to hire a guide, especially on these nighttime excursions. The terrain of an active volcano like Etna is difficult and dangerous during the day, especially after dark. Always be sure to rely on knowledgeable local guides, preferably with years of experience. (PHOTOS G MUSUMECI)