Incredible images of the snow-covered Etna eruption

When fire meets ice: In February 2025, Italy's Etna volcano erupted while covered in snow. It gave us the following spectacular images.

Towering over the city of Catania from 3,300 meters (10826.77 ft) above sea level, Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupts regularly, sometimes several times a year. This time, the striking contrast between its molten lava and the immaculate whiteness of the snow offers an impressive spectacle.

A similar spectacle occurred less than two years ago. In November 2023, the snow-covered slopes of Etna had already trembled under the tremors of the volcano before being covered by a lava flow.

Since the start of its eruption on February 11, Mount Etna has created a river of lava extending over three kilometers, at the southern base of the Bocca Nuova crater, reports the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

This exceptional spectacle has attracted thousands of tourists in recent days around Mount Etna, to the great displeasure of local authorities, exasperated by this unexpected influx.

According to the British newspaper The Guardian, Salvo Cocina, head of the regional civil protection of Sicily, described the tourist influx of recent days on Etna as "wild" and "extremely dangerous".

In a Facebook post on the night of February 16-17, Salvo Cocina denounced a massive influx of visitors, describing "a wild scene with cars crowding the narrow roads, a traffic standstill... and rescue vehicles unable to pass." He also warned of increased dangers after dark, stressing that "s darkness falls, the situation becomes extremely dangerous, with rising risks of falls and people sinking into the snow," The Guardian reports.

On February 17, eight people, including two minors, got lost during an excursion and were only found after several hours of searching. The day before, a 48-year-old man fell, breaking his foot, and four other people got lost.

Furthermore, the eruption of the volcano, and more precisely its ashes, has disrupted air traffic. Several areas of the airspace south and southwest of Etna have been closed, leading to the suspension of some flights. According to Corriere della Sera, Catania airport has also been affected, with flights diverted to Palermo.

Fortunately, no alert has been issued for homes near the volcano, as the lava flows remain confined to uninhabited areas. However, authorities remain vigilant as the eruption progresses.

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