PEDARA, Sicily (AP) – Neighbors and municipal teams worked Wednesday to clean up a Sicilian village near Mount Etna after Europe’s busiest volcano dumped lava, ash and volcanic rocks.
The eruption, which featured spectacular samples of spring lava, forced the temporary closure of Catania Catania airport, a frequent occurrence when Mount Etna is in active phase.
As volcanic activity was expected on Tuesday, the areas surrounding the crater were protected and no injuries or deaths were reported. But nearby residents said the eruption was unusual in that large chunks of volcanic rocks lined the area, not just ash.
“It simply came to our notice then. Something I have never seen in my life, ”said Letizia Olivieri, a resident of Pedara.
The mayor of Pedara, Alfio Cristaudo, said the town was in emergency mode since the eruption spread.
“The whole territory of Pedara and all the streets are covered with volcanic ash and lapels,” or volcanic stones, he said.
Neighbors and local teams cleaned streets, courtyards and cars, bagging the ashes and waiting for municipal collectors to take them away. Driving motorcycles and scooters was prohibited and the speed limit for cars was reduced to limit the spread of ash.
Pedara resident Massimiliano Formica said he was home Tuesday afternoon when he heard what he thought was the start of a rainstorm. But when he looked outside, he saw that “it was raining in a strange way. I went out and saw it fall to the ground. Also big stones. “
Mount Etna is a popular tourist destination and its eruptions, especially when viewed at night, are spectacular to see.