A violent phreatic magmatic explosion took place at Etna volcano at 11:43 am on March 16, 2017.
The material thrown into the air fell back down, striking the heads and bodies of people who were the closest. Tourists, a BBC team and INGV volcanologists were injured … Fortunately only bruises, no serious trauma.
According to the BBC, one of their team of journalists and several tourists had to run for cover after they were caught in the middle of an erupting Mount Etna volcano.
The explosion took place on the western edge of the Valle del Bove, about 2 700 m (8 800 feet) above sea level.
10 people have been injured Thursday, March 16, 2017, after being caught in the middle of a phreatic-magmatic explosion at Mount Etna, Italy at around 11:43 UTC.
6 have been brought to the hospital.
Such an explosion occurs when hot lava (> 1000°C) spreads over an area covered with snow. As the snow vaporizes, it creates a pocket of steam that explodes violently, dispersing lava and hot rocks all around.
