PEDARA, Sicily (AP) – Residents and municipal teams worked on Wednesday to clean up a Sicilian village near Mount Etna after Europe’s most active volcano spewed lava, ash and volcanic rocks.
The eruption, which featured spectacular displays of gushing lava, forced the temporary closure of Catania airport in Sicily, a frequent occurrence when Etna is in an active phase.
As Tuesday’s volcanic activity was widely expected, areas around the crater were protected and there were no reports of injuries or deaths. But nearby residents said the eruption was unusual, as large chunks of volcanic stones covered the area, not just ashes.
“It was a rain of stones. Something I have never seen in my life, ”said Letizia Olivieri, a resident of Pedara.
Pedara’s mayor, Alfio Cristaudo, said the village was in emergency mode due to the extent of the eruption.
“The entire territory of Pedara and all the streets are covered with volcanic ash and lapillus,” or volcanic stones, he said.
Local residents and staff cleaned the streets, yards and cars, bagging the ashes and waiting for municipal waste pickers to take them away. Driving motorcycles and scooters was prohibited, and the speed limit for cars was reduced to limit the spread of ashes.
Pedara resident Massimiliano Formica said he was at home on Tuesday afternoon when he heard what he thought was the start of a storm. But when he looked outside, he saw that it was “raining in a strange way. I went out and saw dirt falling. Also big stones. “
Etna is a popular tourist destination and its eruptions, especially when seen at night, are spectacular to watch.