Strong explosive activity at Etna's Voragine crater early on 30 July 2026 (image: Maria Liotta / facebook)In the morning of 30 July 2026, a paroxysm - a particularly strong eruptive phase characterized by sustained lava fountains - occurred from the central crater, known as Voragine. Intermittent, weak strombolian activity had probably started last night already and continued until it began to quickly increase at around 3.30 am local time early this morning.Accompanied by a characteristic peak of volcanic tremor reaching a high level plateau for several hours, the distinct strombolian explosions merged into lava fountains that generated a plume several kilometers height. Activity declined rapidly by around 10.30 local time. Easterly winds drifted the ash plume over the western side of Etna where heavy lapilli and ash fall was observed.Update: Here's the report of the volcano observatory (INGV Catania):The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etnean Observatory, reported that, through analysis of images from the OE's network of cameras, a small pyroclastic flow was observed from the Voragine crater at 09:59 local time, which moved toward the desert-like Valle del Bove. Strombolian activity from the Voragine crater, which began at approximately 03:30 local time, gradually intensified throughout the morning, evolving into very sustained Strombolian activity and a lava fountain. Starting at 09:00 a.m., ash emission increased significantly, fueling a cloud that reached a height of approximately 7 kilometers above sea level and is spreading toward the western quadrant of the volcano. INGV field personnel have reported ash fallout over the town of Bronte. Since approximately 10:30, Strombolian activity has gradually decreased and is currently very modest, while intense ash emission remains.Regarding the average amplitude of volcanic tremor, after the increase indicated in the previous press release, starting around 10:00 local time, it rapidly decreased while remaining in the high range, where it remains. The source of the tremor until approximately 09:00 was located in an area just west of the Voragine and Bocca Nuova craters, and subsequently at the Voragine crater at a depth of approximately 3,000 m above sea level. Regarding infrasonic activity, starting around 06:30 UTC, medium-energy events were observed in the Voragine crater area, and it is currently at a low level.From a deformation perspective, the DRUV dilatometer recorded a decompression of approximately 60 nanostrains starting at 01:30 UTC. The summit clinometer station at Del Piano crater (ECP) recorded a variation of approximately one microradian during the same period.An impressive aerial image of the eruption column from Voragine crater: