Stromboli eruption 2007: pyroclastic flows

9 March: From about 5 to 5:30pm, a highly unusual phenomenon on Stromboli was observed: Small pyroclastic flows travelled down on the Sciara del Fuoco below the new lava flow that had started from the new fissure vent at 500 m. These flows were probably triggered by collapse of incandescent material of the lava flow front, but perhaps as well by ground movements along the new fracture corresponding to the new vent higher above. In the latter case, they would be just a more energetic expression of the rolling clouds of vapour and dust we observed along the same path earlier.