After almost 4 weeks of calm since the last paroxysm (during 31 Mar-1 Apr), the New SE crater is again showing signs of coming back to life:
Two strong strombolian explosions occurred in the night of 24-25 April and in the morning of 26 April at the Southeast Crater, followed by weak glow and smaller occasional explosions since last evening.
It is too early to predict whether this activity will continue and possibly increase towards another strong eruptive phase with lava fountaining (or paroxysm), but it might very well do so. Volcanic tremor has been showing a gradual slow increase during the past two days.
According to volcanologist Dr. Boris Behncke from INGV Catania, ground deformation is still extremely low, compared to what was seen between the period of inflation (reflecting magma charging) during last autumn-winter and the deflation caused by the series of paroxysms in February-March.
Only Etna will know what is coming up next!
