29 January 2003
Catania, Sicily- Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe erupted on 26 October at 11:45 pm after a year of silence. Located on the bordering edge of Eurasian plate where it
converges with the subduction of part of the northward-moving African plate, its eruptive vents first bursted on the upper southern flank causing a 1 km long fissure.
This was followed by intense loud explosions, which later form a large pyroclastic column and carried by the wind to the south. A second eruptive fissure on the Northeast Rift triggered an earthquake, which destroyed the tourist complex structure located about 1.5 km downslope. Lava begins seeping through new vents and destroyed buildings at Piano Provenzana on 27th evening. Part of the forest along its path were set ablaze. Thick ash cloud towering several kilometers above the volcano was blown southward towards Catania, disrupting traffic and public life. Catania international airport is forced to shut down and its flights are diverted to Palermo as ash hampered vision and left runways slippery. Civil Defense authority begins immediate evacuation of about 1000 residents near the volcano to take refuge in tents and hotels. The ash fallout was visible as far away as Libya, some 400 miles (600 kilometers) south and also visible in space. By the end of 28th October, the Pernicana Fault System on the northeastern flank of Etna was severely displaced due to the ongoing eruptions. On 29th October afternoon, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck numerous buildings at Santa Venerina village on the southeastern flank of Etna. However, the lava flows from the Northeast Rift vents begins to show sign of decreasing intensity of activity and persisted until 5th November when it finally stopped.
Continuous ash emissions on the southern flank entered into its third week causing serious economic damage and decline in tourism. On 13th November, the ash plume gradually ease and by early December lava emission ceased, though explosive activity continues to decline in January, still generating light ash falls. By 28th January, all eruption activity on Mount Etna stopped, having lasted 95 days.
Although there were past efforts by local authorities to minimize damage from the eruption of Mount Etna since 2001, like building barriers to stop lava flow and bombing it with water, there was nothing much further to do to prevent casualties or property damage. Other ways I can think of, like relocating farming and residents away from the volcano’s slopes by providing economic incentives and favourable tax breaks. Civil Defense authority can help in anticipation of future eruption in the preparation and building of multi-layers of barriers to block the lava flows down the slopes. Also, the authority can enlist the help of geologists and volcanologist to monitor and predict future occurrences of eruption so as to provide early warning for evacuation.
Website
Boris Behncke, http://boris.vulcanoetna.it/ETNA_2002.html, extracted 28-02-2010
Jessica Ball, http://geology.com/volcanoes/etna/, extracted 28-02-2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Etna
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/m/mount_etna.htm
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