Lava fountain during the peak of this morning’s paroxysm at Etna’s New SE crater (image: INGV webcam on Montagnola)
The 15th paroxysm from the New SE crater occurred this morning during approx. 9:30 – 11:30 local time. It followed mostly the pattern observed during the previous events since Feb.
Due to bad visibility, the event was not be very well observed visually, but the height of the lava fountains seems to have reached at least 500 m.
Strong westerly winds bent the eruption column and plume to the ENE. In areas such as Vena, it deposited a layer of centimeter-sized black lapilli, and coarse ash fall was reported from Milo and Piedimonte.
Corresponding view through the thermal webcam of INGV at the same site