Run for your lives! Videos show impressive Mount Etna eruption that surprised tourists

Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, Italy, erupted unexpectedly on June 2, 2025, causing panic among tourists and residents . The powerful explosion from the southeast crater generated a column of smoke that reached up to 6,400 meters in height, visible from dozens of kilometers around.

Videos recorded by visitors show dozens of people running down the slopes of the volcano as a dark cloud chases them. Some managed to capture the exact moment the eruption began, generating a viral phenomenon on social media.

The images show the partial collapse of the southeast crater and the formation of a pyroclastic flow, a mixture of gases and volcanic material that descended at high speeds into the Leone Valley. Users shared videos that have already accumulated thousands of reactions and views in just a few hours.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirmed that the eruption was Strombolian, with explosions of increasing intensity. Seismic activity began the night before and peaked during the early morning.

Although Catania Airport has not been closed, authorities maintain an orange alert, especially due to lava flows heading toward areas such as the Valle del Bove. Although ground deformation has been limited, scientists do not rule out further collapses.

Mount Etna is considered one of the world's most active volcanoes , with more than 200 documented eruptions throughout its history . The June 2 eruption has generated particular attention due to the phenomenon's violence, the shock for those present, and the widespread distribution of videos on social media.

Even European media outlets like Local Team and international accounts have broadcast aerial shots and high-definition recordings of the exact moment of the eruption. In some clips, you can see how ash begins to completely cover the sky while hikers document the phenomenon with their cell phones.

As experts explain, this type of explosion occurs when the magma accumulated inside the volcano finds a sudden outlet due to internal pressure. In Etna's case, this activity is constant but unpredictable, which complicates prevention efforts.

For this reason, the INGV has insisted that anyone planning to visit the volcano heed official recommendations. In this case, the event surprised even the monitoring systems, which recorded premonitory movements just hours before the eruption.