The largest active volcano in Europe – Etna is sliding eastward into the sea, and scientists fear that it could cause a catastrophic tsunami, the “Greek Reporter” reported.
Scientists are concerned that the slow movements that have been measured on Etna’s southeast slope could increase and cause it to partially collapse into the water.
Such an event would put Sicily and the Ionian Sea at risk as debris would enter the water, possibly causing devastating waves.
Researchers have announced that all they can do for now is to “keep an eye” on the active volcano, as there is no way to tell if this acceleration of Etna’s movements will come in years or centuries.
In February 2022, Mount Etna spewed a massive twelve kilometer tall column of volcanic ash into the sky above the Italian island of Sicily.
“You can think of a slow landslide at the moment – 4 cm in 15 months, so it is moving very slowly, but there is a danger that it will accelerate and form a landslide that is moving very quickly towards the sea,” said Dr. Morelia Urlaub.
