Fiery 'river of fire' spotted from space as Mount Etna erupts, satellites capture stunning view

Satellites captured a lava flow snaking down Mount Etna's slopes during a powerful eruption on 2 June, while a massive pyroclastic surge erupted in the opposite direction. (Image: Copernicus Sentinel data/ESA)

It started like any other morning over Sicily. But within minutes, Mount Etna erupted with fury, sending tourists scrambling and the skies over the island darkening with ash. On 2 June, a sudden blast from Europe's tallest active volcano stunned even seasoned observers. At 11:20 a.m. local time, a pyroclastic flow — a searing surge of ash and debris — burst from near the summit and charged down Etna's western flank.

A Sudden Blast and a Towering Plume
Experts believe the violent flow was triggered by a collapse in part of the volcano’s caldera wall. The superheated avalanche, thankfully, caused no injuries or deaths. While attention focused on the towering volcanic plume, which rose nearly 6.5 kilometres into the sky, something remarkable went largely unnoticed — a glowing river of lava quietly descended the opposite side of the mountain.

This molten flow, captured by a European Union Copernicus satellite, crept down Etna’s slopes away from populated areas. The satellite image revealed the lava streaming through a blackened patch of earth, stretching towards the Mediterranean. At first glance, the dark land around the lava resembled a long shadow cast by the 3,357-metre mountain. But in truth, it was fossilised magma from past eruptions — a stark reminder of the volcano's constant activity.

A Volcano That Rarely Sleeps
The eruption was intense but short-lived, lasting just six hours. The plume was loaded with sulphur dioxide — a gas that can be dangerous in high doses. Yet the impact on the environment remained limited due to the event’s brief duration. Etna’s latest eruption was its most forceful since 2021, when the volcano experienced a long and violent eruptive phase that added over 30 metres to its height.

Though some reports claimed this blast was the most powerful since 2014, experts later clarified that wasn’t accurate. Mount Etna has seen over 30 eruptive phases in the last century, totalling about 76.5 years of activity. Its frequent outbursts are linked to its position between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. High levels of volcanic gas build-up in its magma chamber also fuel these regular eruptions.

Captured From Earth and Space
Volcanic activity from Etna has been watched both from the ground and from above. In recent years, satellite images and even photos from astronauts aboard the International Space Station have captured dramatic moments. The latest fiery display once again reminds us of the volatile forces simmering beneath our planet’s surface. As one scientist put it, we are living on a thin shell above a churning sea of molten rock.