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Etna eruption May 2008: photos

After the powerful paroxysm at South East Crater on 10 May 2008, a spectacular fissure eruption started on 13 May, opening a 1000 m long, E-W trending fissure starting at the base of the SE crater, and extending into the upper flanks of Valle del Bove.
The activity started with impressive ground deformation where the advancing dike openend the ground, hurling out blocks of older material, some more than tens of meters across. At the fissure, curtains of fire fountains formed from at least 15 vents and produced a fluid lava flow that quickly descended into Valle del Bove. After about one day, the eruption waned quickly to stabilize into mild strombolian activity from a few vents on the upper part of the fissure between 2800 and 2900m.a.s.l. This activity prevailed when our team visited the eruption sites between 15 and 24 May, which is documented in the following photos.

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Strombolian eruption from the vent and lights of Giarre, Tsaormina and Calabria at night. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Strombolian eruption from the vent and lights of Giarre, Tsaormina and Calabria at night. (Photo: To...
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View of the SE crater and the glow from the lava flow seen from Piano del Vescovo (16 May 08) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
View of the SE crater and the glow from the lava flow seen from Piano del Vescovo (16 May 08) (Photo...
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Ash emission and mild spattering from two vents on the eruptive fissure of the May 13 eruption (23 May 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Ash emission and mild spattering from two vents on the eruptive fissure of the May 13 eruption (23 M...
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The active vent on the May 13, 2008, fissure and the still active lava flows (May 16). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The active vent on the May 13, 2008, fissure and the still active lava flows (May 16). (Photo: Tom P...
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The lava flows into Valle del Bove (May 16, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The lava flows into Valle del Bove (May 16, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Volcanologists observing the new activity (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Volcanologists observing the new activity (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Tobias observing the activity. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Tobias observing the activity. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Fountain-like strombolian eruption from the active vent on the evening of May 23 2008. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Fountain-like strombolian eruption from the active vent on the evening of May 23 2008. (Photo: Tom P...
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Spattering from the active vent (May 23, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Spattering from the active vent (May 23, 2008) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Powerful strombolian eruption from the active vent (May 23, 2008). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Powerful strombolian eruption from the active vent (May 23, 2008). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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A powerful explosion from the vent surprises us. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
A powerful explosion from the vent surprises us. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Glow of the lava flow and lights of Sicily and Calabria, divided by the Strait of Messina, in the background. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Glow of the lava flow and lights of Sicily and Calabria, divided by the Strait of Messina, in the ba...
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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A simultaneous eruption from two vents, one erupting ash as well as few glowing blocks, the other one displaying a typical strombolian eruption rich in incandescent spatter. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
A simultaneous eruption from two vents, one erupting ash as well as few glowing blocks, the other on...
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Wide-angle view of the eruptive fissure and the active vent. A giant block, about 10 meters across on the right of the photo was thrown out when the fissure opened. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Wide-angle view of the eruptive fissure and the active vent. A giant block, about 10 meters across o...
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Beginning of a jet-like strombolian eruption from the lower vent (May 24). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Beginning of a jet-like strombolian eruption from the lower vent (May 24). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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The Peloritan Mountains and the Strait of Messina at sunrise, seen from Etna. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The Peloritan Mountains and the Strait of Messina at sunrise, seen from Etna. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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