For the first time since 1985, a lava flow from the
craters of Stromboli volcano reached the sea on 28 December 2002.
While this first flow was very spectacular and copious,
significant activity and thus lava emission lasted only for about 2 hrs. After
this prelude, a pause followed on 29 Dec. A new surge of lava
appeared on the December, 30,- a day people on Stromboli will never forget.
Contemporaneously with the emerging new flow, parts of
the Sciara del Fuoco below the craters collapsed. The resulting landslide
produced a huge ash cloud that was transformed into a mud rain,
and,- much more dangerous,- a small tsunami that hit and damage parts of the
coastline, sending the island into a hysteric crisis.
The new lava flow was emitted from a vent at ca. 500m
a.s.l. It was flowing inside the channel-like scar left by the
landslide. From land, it was extremely difficult to observe. Only its
lowest
100 m, the illuminated fumes above it as well as the delta created at its feet were
visible from safe observation points
along the rim of the Sciara del Fuoco.
Photos above/ below: taken from 273m a.s.l. close to the rim of the Sciara del Fuoco
on the evening of January, 1, 2003. Happy New Year to all !
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