Etna Raises Aviation Alert to Red as Ash Cloud Climbs 1.5 km

3 articles · Updated · The Watchers · Jul 5

Etna’s alert was lifted from Orange to Red at 06:08 UTC after ash emissions began around 05:45 UTC from a vent on the upper eastern flank of Voragine crater.
By 06:45 UTC, the activity had intensified into strong Strombolian bursts, sending an eruptive cloud about 1.5 km above the summit and pushing ash south and south-southeast.
INGV said volcanic tremor stayed in a high and rising range, with this episode’s peak amplitude recorded at 06:30 UTC; tremor sources remained centered in the Voragine area near 3,000 m elevation.
Deformation networks showed no significant overall changes, even as summit instruments logged small shifts; forecast models indicated ash would keep dispersing south in the coming hours.
The escalation followed days of activity at Voragine: an effusive vent active since June 26 faded and ended on July 4, while a small secondary lava flow on July 2-3 traveled just over 100 m before stopping.