Mount Etna in Italy erupts twice in 48 hours

Kyle

Beloved Misanthrope
PREMO Member
Authorities were prepared for the initial eruption


Teams in Italy worked to clean up the area surrounding Mount Etna Wednesday after the volcano spewed lava, ash and volcanic stones.

Municipal teams largely anticipated activity from Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. Authorities shut down areas around the crater Tuesday, but the activity still forced the temporary closure of nearby Sicily’s Catania Airport.


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Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Here's a good shot of the magnitude of the smoke column. I skied up on those slopes a few decades ago. I think the place was called Piano Provenzano. I'll have to check to see if it's still around.

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Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
Here's a good shot of the magnitude of the smoke column. I skied up on those slopes a few decades ago. I think the place was called Piano Provenzano. I'll have to check to see if it's still around.

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I was working out of Malta supporting a high speed ferry operation that connected to various Sicilian ports. Late 1980s or early 90s.. We'd overnight in Catania on some runs. Etna was quite active at the time and every morning we had to gather crew to clean the black ash/grit off the nice white decks and superstructure of the ferry. Good times though.

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UglyBear

Well-Known Member
I was working out of Malta supporting a high speed ferry operation that connected to various Sicilian ports. Late 1980s or early 90s.. We'd overnight in Catania on some runs. Etna was quite active at the time and every morning we had to gather crew to clean the black ash/grit off the nice white decks and superstructure of the ferry. Good times though.

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Did you have any input into naming the vessel?
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
Did you have any input into naming the vessel?
She was originally built for service in the US Virgin Islands. And did run there briefly. But then she and three sister ships ended up in Malta and Greece....more good times...

The sisters ships were Sant Agata..Santa Maria and San Pietro...more suitable names for the staunchly religious Catholic Maltese owners.

Story time: Around 2003 or so, my oldest daughter, attending NYU at the time, and two of her best friends - all majoring in International relations - were trying to figure out where to go abroad for their summer break. They had Malta on their short list...beats me why. In any event, when informed of this, I said I'd contact my friends that I'd made there and see what could be arranged for their visit. Long story made short..they were provide unlimited limo service from the time they arrived on the island....a luxury waterfront apartment connected to the gambling casino that cost them $16/day US...free ferry travel back and forth to Sicily..and a free volcano viewing tour to visit Mt. Etna while in Sicily.

Suffice to say..the owners of Virtu Rapid and Virtu Steamship Co, Malta, appreciated the help we provided in getting them off and running. Today, they are the largest fast ferry operation in the Med.
 
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Bann

Doris Day meets Lady Gaga
PREMO Member
I was working out of Malta supporting a high speed ferry operation that connected to various Sicilian ports. Late 1980s or early 90s.. We'd overnight in Catania on some runs. Etna was quite active at the time and every morning we had to gather crew to clean the black ash/grit off the nice white decks and superstructure of the ferry. Good times though.

View attachment 155362


My middle niece was born in Sigonella in 1989 - sister couldn't make it in time to Naples. BIL was stationed there from 88 - 91 (I think) They lived out in Agrigento
 
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