Spectacular images of lava flows racing down the slopes of Mount Etna during an eruption have drawn crowds of tourists to the Italian volcano, much to the dismay of local guides. As Europe’s highest active volcano, Etna has been spewing ash and lava for several days, forcing the closure of the nearby Catania airport, a major entry point for visitors to Sicily.
An ascent that cannot be improvised
The companies organizing nighttime hikes to allow participants to observe the eruption up close say they are overwhelmed with calls. “Everyone wants to come see”, Daniele Perricelli, 41, a local guide, told AFP on Wednesday.
Perricelli’s group, “Etna Guide,” leads a few dozen visitors onto the volcano each evening, but is currently receiving about 300 requests per day, three times as many as a typical summer day, he said.
Ernesto Maria Magri, another local guide, dubbed the event a “tourist eruption”, noting that many residents of the region were also climbing to see the lava “sometimes in an unruly fashion”.
For lack of being able or willing to hire a guide, many attempt the ascent on their own. A risky practice, according to Mr. Perricelli, who explains that the volcano is unstable. “Up to 2,000 people make the ascent each evening: the trails are crowded”, he lamented. “Yesterday, we even saw some in flip-flops”, he added, calling on authorities for greater vigilance.
Certain hikers, including Italian television presenter Diletta Leotta, were criticized on social media for taking photos while seeming too close to the incandescent lava.
Nevertheless, guides emphasize that it is possible to approach within a few meters of the lava flow in the lower-altitude zones where the lava has already cooled.
Under current rules, visitors may ascend by themselves up to around 2,400 meters, but must be accompanied by a guide to go higher.
The summit reaches 3,324 meters. Italy’s Civil Protection Agency issued a yellow alert for Etna — the second level on a four-tier scale ranging from green to red — signaling frequent eruptions and potential explosions.
