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.
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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 |
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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). |
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