MT. ETNA IN ERUPTION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29260, 19 July 1960, Page 10

MT. ETNA IN ERUPTION

Lava Streams Out After Explosion (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) CATANIA (Sicily), July 17. A huge explosion in the centre! crater of Mount Etna sent a mushroom cloud 30,000 ft into the air today, hurling out masses of white-hot lava the size of buses and coating the countryside for miles around with ashes. As lava flowed down the mountainside amid swirling clouds of dense smoke, a search party set out to look for a group of British and French tourists who had planned to visit the central crater this morning. But Mr Alzio Aiello, caretaker of a hotel not far from the crater on the route the tourists would have taken, said they had not passed his hotel and he believed they had called off their trip.

Panic-stricken peasants living on the slopes of the 10,800 ft mountain were reported to be fleeing towards Catania as lava and stones clattered down over an area of 100 square miles, accompanied by explosions like machine-gun fiisillades. Fires broke out in many places. No Danger To Villages

But volcano experts, who described this eruption of Europe’s biggest active volcano as “unprecedented,” said there was no danger to inhabitants or nearby villages, though more eruptions could take place. A policeman at Linguaglossa, in the foothills of the volcano, said the explosion was “terrifying." One forest of about 500 square yards was set ablaze. Volunteer firemen rushed to the scene and several were reported to have been burned, but none badly. As the black cloud blotted out the sun, the 90deg. temperature dropped 20deg„ and fine ash began settling to the ground over an area of hundreds of square miles.

The pillar of smoke could be seen as far away as Reggio Calabria, on the “toe” of the Italian “boot.”

Reuters said the lava is flowing down the mountainside through the channels and dykes left by 2000 years of previous eruptions. Usually it cools and stops before it reaches the villages at the foot of the mountain and the coastal tourist roads.