Thousands of Tourists Flock to See Mount Etna Eruption, Blocking Rescue Efforts
Thousands of tourists have flocked to Mount Etna to witness the spectacular volcanic eruptions. However, local authorities have reported that some tourists are blocking roads and hindering rescue services from reaching those in need.
Salvo Cocina, Sicily’s head of regional civil protection, described the recent surge of tourism at Mount Etna as “wild” and “extremely dangerous.” He explained that day-trippers, attracted by the stunning views, had parked their vehicles along narrow roads, obstructing the passage of emergency vehicles.
In a post on Facebook on Sunday evening, Cocina described the chaos, saying, “The streets are overwhelmed with cars, creating a traffic standstill and preventing rescue vehicles from getting through.” He added, “As night falls, the situation becomes even more perilous, with an increased risk of people falling or getting stuck in the snow.”
Despite the warnings, the influx of tourists has continued unabated.
On Monday, eight people, including two minors, got lost during an excursion and were only located after several hours. This prompted a call to the fire brigade. The day before, a 48-year-old man fractured his foot after falling, and four other tourists had gone missing overnight.
Firefighters have been deployed to assist local authorities in managing the large crowds and preventing further issues, while mayors of towns located on the slopes of the volcano have instructed visitors to stay at least 500 meters away from the lava. This directive, however, has largely been ignored.
Hundreds of videos from tourists in the area went viral over the weekend, showing people dangerously close to the lava. One TikTok clip depicted tourists standing just inches from a lava flow as it slowly descended the snowy slope, melting the snow to create a stream.
“I’ve seen many photos and videos of people dangerously close to the lava, some even skiing,” said Carlo Caputo, the mayor of Belpasso, a nearby town. “While visually captivating, this behavior exposes them to serious risks. The lava, when interacting with snow, can instantly vaporize it, and the thermal energy released can hurl rocks or fragments violently.”
Italy, home to the world’s highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, is increasingly grappling with the challenges of overtourism.
Last month, the mayor of Roccaraso, a popular ski resort in Italy, took measures to control the overwhelming influx of day-trippers. After 260 buses, carrying over 10,000 visitors from Naples and the Campania region, flooded the town, he even suggested calling in the army. The mass tourism had been spurred by a viral TikTok video and the lure of discounted tickets.
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