LAVA POURING FROM CRATER.




Initials AA/RAI/BH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SICILY ALREADY SUFFERING FROM AN EARTHQUAKE WHICH CLAIMED 500 LIVES ON THE WESTERN PART OF THE ISLAND, FACES ANOTHER NATURAL PHENOMENA ON THE EAST COAST WHERE THE VOLCANO, MOUNT ETNA, IS ACTIVE AGAIN. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF THREATS TO LIFE OR PROPERTY, BUT THE VOLCANO IS SENDING OUT STREAMS OF LAVA DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE.

MOUNT ETNA IS THE HIGHEST VOLCANO IN EUROPE AND ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 135 ERUPTIONS OF THE VOLCANO, MOST OF THEM IN THE CHRISTIAN ERA, BUT BEFORE THAT THERE ARE FEW RECORDS. A MAJOR ERUPTION OCCURRED IN 396 B.C., WHICH KEPT THE CARTHAGINIAN ARMY, COMMANDED BY HIMLICO, FROM REACHING CATANA.

THE MOST VIOLENT ERUPTION WAS RECORDED IN 1669 WHEN THE LAVA FLOW REACHED THE CITY OF CATANIA AND THE SEA. IN RECENT TIMES THE GREATEST DANGER WAS POSED BY THE ERUPTIONS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1950 AND OCTOBER 1951 WHICH THREATENED THE VILLAGES OF RINAZZO AND FORNAZZO.