The volcano observatory published a series of infrared images showing last night’s sudden violent explosion at the summit.
Even though it was much smaller than other explosions that have occurred at the summit during the recent two years, it would have presented a great hazard of being hit by bombs for anyone on the (now closed) summit ridge known as Pizzo, a popular viewing spot before it was closed after the violent eruption on 3 July 2019.
„During the evening of 1 August, at 20:01 UTC (22:01, local time), the monitoring network recorded a larger explosive event than usual in the Central / Central-South crater terrace sector. The analysis of the images indicated that the eruptive activity produced a significant emission of material that reached heights of over 150 meters on the vent and that dispersed beyond the crater terrace affecting the Pizzo area and rolling along the Sciara of fire. At 21:30 UTC (23:30, local time), the INGV Etneo Observatory reported the return of the parameters to normal activity.“
Source: INGVvulcani (facebook)