Accidents on Stromboli volcano

Explosion on 1. June 1996, several people injured

Report by Hansjürg Burkhardt, Zäziwil, Switzerland.

«In the afternoon of 1. June 96 I started out to climb Pizzo on my own. Previously I had informed myself about the route and other particularities of the mountain. I expected no major difficulties ahead of me, certainly not any ones bigger than when climbing a peak in the Alps.

After a 2 hour climb I reached Pizzo. Around 20:00 a few more people cam up. The explosions were very strong about 23.00. The followed each other every few minutes. After that is was quiet for quite some time. As I had been told not to sleep on the summit (even though this is recommended in various travel guide books) because of the dangers of big explosions I started my descent. There was a full moon and I could easily descend through Rina Grande without even using my flashlight.

Just when I reached the lowest part of the path in Rina Grande at 23:55 there was a gigantic bang. When I turned towards Pizzo I saw a fiery curtain of lava rise towards the sky. After some initial hesitation I began to look for some protection. All I could find was a fairly large boulder under which I could protect my head. My back was covered somewhat by my backpack.

Sites of bomb impacts. Several bombs had flown over Hansjürg Burkhardt.

I was very lucky as most bombs flew over me. Near my position only a few had landed and were now glowing in the dark. The air was very warm. The was no more noise from the craters, but of course I did not know if there would be more eruptions. Suddenly I remembered reports about lahars of several 100 deg temperature and all I wanted to do then was run away from the mountain!

This was a serious mistake as in my panic I missed a junction in the path. Between the high bushes I could hardly see anything and suddenly I fell down a rocky slope. After I struggling to get on my feet again I heard and smelt that the bush had caught fire in my vicinity.

Trying to climb back up to the path a rock came lose and I fell again, this time even further down. Finally I came to a halt (with my head pointing downwards) and I heard that the stones which I had loosened fell much further. Carefully I raised my head and realised I was lying just above a cliff. Had I fallen down there I would probably not have survived. I was bleeding from my right hand and the head. Slowly I managed to control my panic and began to look more carefully for the path. It was still very warm but the bushfire now seemed to be further away than I had first thought.

Bushfire ignited by volcanic bombs	Fire fighting plane, 2. June 96, 10h00, photo Burkhardt.

When I reached Stromboli village many people were standing in the square in front of the church of San Vincenzo, all looking up towards the mountain. The bush was burning in many places. A woman lead me to the first aid station where a doctor stitched the wound on my head and dressed all the others I had elsewhere.

A rescue party was, at that time, on its way to Pizzo. There they found some burnt cloths and other objects. Some people who had got lost were safely brought back to the village. Nobody was hurt directly by the explosion, but several tourists were injured when they run away from the eruption. One woman broke her leg just before reaching the village. The following day Pierre Cottens and I went to map the locations of the bombs which had fallen near me.»