Unusual eruptions

1. June 1996

After more than 6 weeks of intense activity at Crater 1 a violent explosion occurred at 23:50 local time (21:50 GMT). Stromboli guide N. Zerilli reports that the explosion was clearly heard and seen from the village of Stromboli, and that it threw very large blocks to a considerable distance from the craters, especially into the zone of the "canneto", uphill from the village of Stromboli-San Bartolo. A bush fire was lit by the incandescent pyroclastic material. Seven tourists were surprised by the explosion while sleeping near the summit, and four got injured.

Photo taken from Punta Labronzo only minutes after the eruption: Bombs have set fire to the vegetation on the upper slopes of the volcano! © Wolfgang Müller, Via Belfiore 8, Stromboli

Above: Records of our seismic station: Continuous explosions (probably at Crater 1) few minutes before the explosion - vertical component. Below: The seismic record of the explosion (tangential component).