The lateral eruption and its effects on humans and buildings 26./27. July 2001
After a series of violent earthquake shocks that followed the July 13 paroxysm, several fissures started to form on Etna's slopes. As
from July 17 some of them started effusive activity. Flows that have threatened houses and buildings the most were those coming from the
2100m Monti Calcarazzi fissure, close to the Sapienza refuge, and the one coming from a mouth located at 2500m.a.s.l, on Piano del Lago,
north of Montagnola. The pictures presented here, taken by Mario Cipollini, document the flows, the building of a barrier in the
Sapienza area. To give a sense of the perspective, camera lens focal lengths are given (i.e. f=35mm). As usual the pictures on this page
link to larger photos (about 40 to 100 KB). All times are local (GMT + 2 hr).
July 26, 19h, f=100mm. The new lava flow (from the fissures in Piano del Lago, 2500m high) is about to cover the square close to the cableway station (1910m). In the background Monti Silvestri.
July 25, 15h, f=35mm. Lava keeps coming out steaming from the 2100m fissure (between Monti Silvestri and South Etna cableway). It is used as a background by an English TV crew, one of the many who got there to film the eruption.
July 25, 17h, f=200mm. The new Lago cone bursts every few seconds throwing huge pieces of magma close to the upper station of the cableway. It will be burnt a few days later by a lava flow.
July 26, 06h, f=35mm. Right after dawn Nino Mazzaglia, Etna's cableway's director, is already at work: a new lava flow (started the night before by one of Lago cone base fissures) threatens the cableway once more.
July 26, 08h, f=80mm. People work madly to divert the lava from the cableway and to raise protective barriers.
July 26, 15h, f=80mm. The provincial road that links Nicolosi Nord with Zafferana already interrupted by the lava from the 2100m fissure is again threatened by second flow.
July 26, 17h, f=35mm. Army bulldozers dig the square close to the cableway station (1910m) to make room for the lava to pass.
July 26, 19h, f=100mm. The lava front has already reached the square, but people keep strengthening the earth barriers.
July 26, 19h, f=50mm. Lava is about to cross the provincial road, a few meters from cafés and souvenir shops.
July 26, 21h, f=35mm. Lava passes cableway pylons. On the right, the 2100m fissure feed another flow directed towards Nicolosi.
July 26, 21h, f=50mm. Behind the cableway station the lava flow and Lago cone's Strombolian explosion are well visible.
July 26, 21h, f=50mm. The barriers resist the lava flow, and the cableway station, for now, is saved.
July 26, 22h, f=80mm. People remain in Sapienza's parking area all night. The souvenir chalets are in danger: they may be covered by lava soon.
July 26, 22h, f=80mm. The bulldozer will work all night only few meters from the incadescent lava front.
July 27, 24h f=35mm. The 2100m and the 2500m lava flows keep advancing side by side. On the background Sapienza's lights.
July 27, 13h, f=20mm. The lava flow has passed the souvenir shops by a few meters without damaging them. A small Madonna statue had been placed at the nearest shop.
|Copyright: Mario Cipollini|