--- title: "Terrifying Footage Shows Tourists Fleeing Epic Volcanic Eruption" description: "A terrifying video shows dozens of tourists fleeing a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna on the island of Sicily." date: "2025-06-03" modified: "2025-06-03" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/footage-tourists-fleeing-volcanic-eruption" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "volcano" - "volcanos" --- # Terrifying Footage Shows Tourists Fleeing Epic Volcanic Eruption ![A terrifying video shows dozens of tourists fleeing a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna on the island of Sicily.]() *\Image: @mnrkhoury via Instagram\* ## Running Down That Hill A [terrifying video]() that's making its rounds on social media shows dozens of tourists fleeing a massive volcano eruption by running down an ash-covered hill. The footage was recorded on the hills next to Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, which violently erupted on Monday morning. "Stop the boat!" one man can be heard shouting in the clip. "Come on!" At around the forty-second mark, a massive cloud can be seen engulfing the surrounding hillside in a dark shadow. "We were nearly grazed, look at this cloud here," a tourist said in a separate [video obtained by *CNN*](). "We were two steps away and thank goodness we have a responsible guide with us." "It arrived all at once, an immense smoke, immense, immense roar," he added. The volcano is one of the world's most active, making eruptions not uncommon. For instance, a [powerful eruption in February]() caused a nearby airport to divert dozens of flights. However, the magnitude of this week's event hasn't been observed since 2014, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Y_xoISXBE ## Manic Volcanic Fortunately, as the [*BBC* reports](), damage or injury as a result of its frequent eruptions are extremely rare. And according to *CNN*, all tourists were evacuated safely. Nonetheless, footage of the eruption is mesmerizing. Etna blew a dark cloud of gas and rock hundreds of feet into the air, showering the nearby villages with a thick layer of ash. According to the *BBC*, experts suggest the volcano's crater may have partially collapsed, allowing a sludge of material to flow down its side. Monday's eruption was the result of gas bubbles within the volcano's magma chamber bursting suddenly, causing material to be shot high into the sky. That makes them especially dangerous for nearby aircraft. Despite the terrifying possibility of being caught by surprise by an erupting volcano, hikers are unlikely to give up on an experience of a lifetime anytime soon. "Mount Etna is a majestic and unpredictable force of nature," hiking guide Alessio Zocco told *CNN*. "It commands respect, but it also offers one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring experiences you can witness." "With knowledge, preparation, and humility, it’s possible to explore this landscape safely and meaningfully," he added. **More on volcanoes:** *[Scientists Say Something Is Corking the Yellowstone Supervolcano]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()