--- description: A volcanic explosion caused by hot magma streaming into snow on Mount Etna injured 10 people on Thursday. title: A Volcanic Exposion in Italy Injured 10 People image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7cb5e910d6d512c6/6988beb0bc6cfc65753e0896/mount-etna-explosion-volcano-injuries.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # A Volcanic Explosion in Italy Injured 10 People  by [Julia Zorthian](/author/julia-zorthian/)  ## Julia Zorthian Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 16, 2017 5:11 PM CUT  Mount Etna erupts and sends an ash cloud across the island on February 28, 2017 in Sicily, Italy. Mount Etna erupts and sends an ash cloud across the island on February 28, 2017 in Sicily, Italy.Marco Restivo/Barcroft Media—Barcroft Media via Getty Images  by [Julia Zorthian](/author/julia-zorthian/)  ## Julia Zorthian Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 16, 2017 5:11 PM CUT A volcanic explosion caused by hot magma streaming into snow on Mount Etna [injured 10 people](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-etna-idUSKBN16N270 "undefined") on Thursday. The volcano Mount Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, has had three eruptions [over roughly three weeks](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39293086 "undefined"). Rocks propelled into the air by the blast rained down on people observing the lava flow, including members of a BBC News video crew, [BBC](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39293086 "undefined") [reports](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39293086 "undefined"). “Many injured – some head injuries, burns, cuts and bruises,” tweeted BBC reporter Rebecca Morelle, who was present on Mount Etna. > [](https://twitter.com/BBCMorelle/status/842365483462602752) > [](https://twitter.com/BBCMorelle/status/842365783749607424) Emergency services said 10 people were injured, and six were taken to a hospital according to Italian officials, [Reuters reports](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-etna-idUSKBN16N270 "undefined"). Morelle [said that a volcanologist on-site told her](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39293086 "undefined") it was the most dangerous explosion or situation he’s seen in 30 years on the job. She also reported that all members of the BBC crew were safe, though some experienced some minor injuries. Mount Etna is the tallest volcano in Europe, and [began erupting at the end of February](http://time.com/4685275/mount-etna-italy-volcanic-eruption/ "undefined"). > [](https://twitter.com/BBCMorelle/status/842371087396687873) > [](https://twitter.com/BBCMorelle/status/842372082306580480) \[[_BBC_](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39293086 "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4703935/mount-etna-volcanic-explosion-injures-10/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4703935/mount-etna-volcanic-explosion-injures-10/"},"headline":"A Volcanic Explosion in Italy Injured 10 People","datePublished":"2017-03-16T17:11:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T03:53:12.054Z","description":"A Mount Etna eruption on the island of Sicily caused the Thursday explosion","url":"https://time.com/4703935/mount-etna-volcanic-explosion-injures-10/","keywords":["Italy","Volcano","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7cb5e910d6d512c6/6988beb0bc6cfc65753e0896/mount-etna-explosion-volcano-injuries.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julia Zorthian","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/julia-zorthian/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7cb5e910d6d512c6/6988beb0bc6cfc65753e0896/mount-etna-explosion-volcano-injuries.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"mount etna explosion volcano injuries","caption":"mount etna explosion volcano injuries","creditText":"Marco Restivo/Barcroft Media—Barcroft Media via Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4703935/mount-etna-volcanic-explosion-injures-10/","name":"A Volcanic Explosion in Italy Injured 10 People"}}]}] ```