Civil Protection Department

Stromboli, an explosion causes a fire

On the morning of July 5th at 4:45 the stations of the monitoring networks INGV - National Instituted of Geophysics and Volcanology and the University of Florence registered a major explosion of the Stromboli volcano. It was characterized by the emission of ash and lava fragments which reached and exceeded the area of Pizzo Sopra la Fossa. The event, four times the amplitude of ordinary Stromboli activity, was part of a sequence of 11 ordinary explosive activities which commenced at 4:43 and terminated at 4.50.

Following the explosion, the fallout of incandescent material triggered a fire in the area of Forgia Vecchia. To extinguish the fire two Canadair of the Civil Protection Department, a helicopter and ground crew of the State Forestry Corps intervened.

The Alpine Rescue of the Guardia di Finanza, which acts as a support team for, rescue and patrol of the volcano during the busy tourist season and the authorized Stromboli volcanic guides, conducted a survey at the summit, to detect the material erupted by the volcano.

The Central Functional Centre of volcanic risk has maintained constant contact with the centres responsible for monitoring and surveillance of Italian volcanoes - Sections of INGV and University of Florence, in constant liaison with the Operations Centre of the Department of Advanced-Coa. In particular, the COA has consistently followed the activities of Stromboli, providing support to all facilities in the firefighting operation - the State Forestry Corps, Coast Guard, Carabinieri, Mountain Rescue-Sagf Alpine Rescue of the Guardia di Finanza.