1.
LV CRATER
0.04

2.
GV PAN DOWN SIDE OF MOUNT ETNA
0.09

3.
STV RIVER OF LAVA
0.13

4.
SV SPECTATORS
0.16

5.
LV HALO ROUND NEW CRATE
0.19

6.
LV NIGHT SHOT ... ERUPTION
0.27

7.
STV RIVER OF LAVA
0.29

8.
CU DITTO
0.33

9.
CU DITTO
0.36

10.
STV PAN DITTO
0.39

11.
LV PAN DITTO
0.45

12.
SV ETNA ERUPTING
0.48

13.
LV DITTO
0.52



Initials TDH/RAI/WS/FW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MOUNT ETNA, EUROPE'S TALLEST AND MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO, EXPLODED INTO SPECTACULAR ACTIVITY RECENTLY, AND TONGUES OF MOLTEN LAVA FLOWED DOWN ITS SIDES WHILE INTERNAL EXPLOSIONS HURLED ROCKS AND ASHES FROM HAS NORTH-EAT CRATERS.

ETNA, NEAR CATANIA, SICILY, IS A GREAT TOURIST ATTRACTION. IT RUMBLES INTO LIFE EVERY FEW MONTHS, EMITS VARYING AMOUNTS OF LAVA, PROVIDES A BREATHTAKING FIREWORK DISPLAY, AND QUIETENS DOWN AGAIN.

FORTUNATELY, THE THREE TOWNS AND FERTILE VALLEYS ON OR NEAR ITS SLOPES ARE NOT IN DANGER FROM THE RIVER OF MOLTEN ROCK. THE LAST DISASTER CAUSED BY ETNA WAS IN 1928, WHEN LAVA COMPLETELY WIPED OUT THE TOWN OF MASCATI AND ALMOST ENTIRELY DESTROYED THE VILLAGE OF NUNZIATA. THE LOSS WAS ESTIMATED AT GBP2-MILLION.