On June 2nd, Mount Etna on Italy's Sicily island experienced a violent eruption, spewing large amounts of high-temperature gases, ash, and lava several kilometers into the air. The explosive sounds could be heard even in cities 40 to 50 kilometers away, leading to widespread panic among tourists who hurriedly fled the area, with videos of their escape going viral on social media.

According to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), initial observations show that the eruption has caused a partial collapse on the northern slope of the southeastern crater. This area had also seen spectacular lava flows in a previous eruption a few months ago. The eruption began at 1 PM local time (7 PM Taiwan time) and aligns with recent volcanic activity patterns, defined as a 'pyroclastic flow eruption.' The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has warned that the ash plume could rise to about 6,400 meters.

Sicilian civil protection authorities issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory (VONA) for aviation, advising all flights to avoid the area. However, as the current wind direction is not blowing ash towards the airports, both Palermo and Catania airports remain operational. According to FlightRadar data, some flights originally scheduled to land in Catania have been diverted to Palermo. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with significant activity observed in 2025. Reports from Newsweek indicate that the volcano had spectacular eruptions in February, April, and May, generating lava flows and ash clouds. Italian authorities continue to closely monitor volcanic activity to ensure the safety of the public.