Italian island of Stromboli declares red alert
The Stromboli belongs to the more active volcanoes in Europe. For several days now, the mountain has been particularly restless - large amounts of lava are bubbling out of the crater, thick smoke rises into the sky. The authorities have issued a warning.
On the Italian volcanic island of Stromboli in the Mediterranean Sea, the highest alert level of red has been declared following intense rumbling of the namesake volcano. The authorities called on the population to keep a close eye on the situation and strictly follow the instructions of the Civil Defense. Previously, the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (IGNV) had reported a sudden increase in seismic activity.
The Stromboli, which is over 920 meters high, is one of the more active volcanoes in Europe. For several days now, the mountain has been particularly active: large amounts of lava are bubbling out of the crater, which then flows several hundred meters steeply downwards into the sea. Videos show thick smoke rising high into the sky. Stromboli - an island that belongs to the Lipari Islands - is home to only a few hundred people. Many tourists travel there from the mainland or from Sicily by sea to climb the volcano.
The Stromboli is also known through literature and film: In Jules Verne's adventure novel "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" from the 19th century, the book's heroes are catapulted back up to the surface through the crater of the Stromboli at the end. The Italian filmmaker Roberto Rossellini shot there shortly after World War II the film "Stromboli" with his later wife Ingrid Bergman in the leading role.
Due to the volcanic activity on Stromboli, an International Volcanic Hazard Center might be necessary to provide updated information and guidelines. Geologists worldwide are closely monitoring the situation, as the current activity could lead to significant geological changes in Italy.
