Terrified Tourists Flee For Cover After Italy's Mt. Etna Suddenly Erupts In Wild Videos

On June 2, 2025, tourists to Italy's Mount Etna were forced to flee the scene when Europe's largest active volcano suddenly erupted beneath their feet.

As the tourists ascended the volcano, large plumes of smoke appeared as if from out of nowhere, taking the entire group by surprise. Photographs and videos taken during the incident capture tourists looking on in shock, fleeing the scene, and some stopping to take photos and videos of their own once they arrived at a safer distance.

Minutes after the initial appearance of smoke and ash, a traditional pyroclastic flow came rushing down the volcano.

According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, an initial tremor was detected on Sunday night, and the eruption was calculated to have begun at 11:00 AM that same day, Central European Time (CET).

You can see a video of the tourists leaving the area of the eruption here:

Fellow X (formerly Twitter) users were alarmed by the footage.

Here's another video of the eruption from a different, even more startling perspective.

Some wondered why anyone would risk hiking around something as unpredictable as a volcano.

The UK Foreign Office warns travelers who plan to come to the area to check with the local authorities and travel guides prior to arrival, in case adjustments to their itinerary are needed.

"If you are travelling to or from Catania during this period of heightened activity, check with your travel provider or with Catania airport."

"There are several active volcanoes in southern Italy. National emergency planning has been updated for Vesuvius as well as the Phlegraean fields, an area that remains active and which has experienced tremors in 2024."

"Read what to do in the event of a volcanic eruption and follow the instructions of the local authorities."

The volcano, standing at 3327 meters, or 11,000 feet, tall, is the tallest and most expansive volcano in Europe, and it was last recorded to have erupted in May 2023. At that time, flights were canceled and significantly delayed in the nearby city of Catania.

Surprisingly, this eruption was stronger than the one in May 2023. The last comparable eruption took place in 2014. With the exception of the May 2023 eruption, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory reports that Mount Etna's eruptions are growing in intensity and frequency.

Fortunately, this time, flights are not being cancelled but simply rerouted to avoid the eruption zone, and no tourists or locals were injured due to the eruption.