Mount Etna began 2026 with a renewed display of volcanic activity, as lava emerged from a fissure vent high on the volcano’s eastern flank, marking the first eruption phase of the year. The activity developed inside the Valle del Bove, a broad, uninhabited depression that has repeatedly channelled lava flows during Etna’s long eruptive history.
According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the eruption entered a new phase on 1 January, when a small fissure opened at an altitude of around 2,100 metres above sea level, near the northern wall of the Valle del Bove. Lava began flowing downslope with a low effusion rate, remaining confined to the central portion of the valley. Monitoring data indicated no immediate threat to residential areas, and no damage to infrastructure was reported.
The event followed weeks of heightened activity that started before the end of 2025. On Christmas Eve, several of Etna’s summit craters became active, producing ash emissions and intermittent Strombolian explosions. The Northeast Crater, dormant for nearly three decades, ejected coarse pyroclastic material and sustained lava fountains, while the Voragine Crater generated lava flows extending eastward. These late-December episodes concluded a year marked by multiple eruptive phases that repeatedly affected tourism and, at times, air traffic in eastern Sicily.
This false-colour image, acquired on 3 January 2026 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows snow-covered areas in blue, while the active lava flow stands out in red as it advances within the Valle del Bove. The satellite data allow scientists to distinguish thermal anomalies and map the evolving lava field even under winter conditions.
Field surveys conducted by INGV in the days following the fissure opening showed that the lava front advanced slowly before stalling at lower elevations, where it began to cool. While the most distal fronts became inactive, overlapping lava flows continued to feed the central part of the field for several days. Weak Strombolian activity persisted intermittently at the Voragine Crater, producing occasional ash emissions that dispersed quickly near the summit.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery plays a central role in volcanic monitoring at Mount Etna, supporting rapid assessments of lava paths, flow length, and changes in the landscape. Combined with ground-based measurements of seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions, the satellite observations help authorities track Etna’s evolving behaviour as Europe’s most active volcano continues to reshape itself at the start of 2026.
Featured image credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
