Her eruptions have been documented since before 1500 BC
Etna's most powerful recorded eruption was in 1669, when explosions destroyed part of the summit and lava flows from a fissure on the volcano's flank reached the sea and the town of Catania, more than ten miles away.
An eruption in 1775 produced large lahars when hot material melted snow and ice on the summit, and an extremely violent eruption in 1852 produced more than 2 billion cubic feet of lava and covered more than three square miles of the volcano's flanks in lava flows. Etna's longest eruption began in 1979 and went on for thirteen years; its latest eruption began in March 2007, and is still ongoing.
What had started last night evolved into the first true paroxysmal eruption of 2013, marked by tall lava fountains and lava flows from the New SE crater.
Waiting for your next post is as bad as watching 127 Hours, I am on the edge of my seat!
How is the breathing, do you have to wear a mask, or stay indoors? Does any of the dust or actual heavy rocks, like you showed, endanger you and your neighbors? This is the first time I've ever "talked" to anyone in an eruption zone. Give the peak a wave for me!
This is very exciting, and very weird! Just yesterday me and my friend were discussing the possibility of it erupting big in the close future.