An unusual video of the recent Mt. Etna eruption as been picked up by the adventure, and wider, media. The video, captured by a group of skiers, shows a solidifying lava boulder of molten rock crashing down the snowy slopes of the volcano.
Etna is Europe’s most active volcano, and it proved this last week, during an eruption that could be seen for miles. The outpouring of lava and gas began Monday and by Tuesday authorities said the event did not pose a risk to surrounding towns.
Etna’s last big eruption came in 1981 and destroyed thousands of acres of farmland and woods, including homes. Lava flows were particularly destructive during that blast, which cut off phone lines and blocked highways.
Thankfully, last week’s eruption didn’t cause much disruption to the island of Sicily, but it did spew lava boulders a fair distance away from the cauldron. Skiers, on the snow-laden mountain, captured the phenomenon on video and uploaded the footage to YouTube.
The Washington Post reported that the skiers actually chased the boulder down the slope. At the start of the video you can see one of the skiers following the path of the boulder, but the events leading up to the clip are unknown.
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