Etna Guides Strike Over New Lava Flow Restrictions

Guides leading tourists to witness Mount Etna's dramatic lava flows have begun striking, protesting new safety regulations imposed by Catania authorities following recent eruptions. The restrictions, which limit excursions to dusk and maintain a 200-meter distance from lava, are considered by guides to be excessive and an affront to their professional capabilities. This marks the first strike by guides in decades, disrupting tourism and visitor experiences.

The new rules also enforce a previously existing limit of 10 people per group, with enhanced monitoring. Mount Etna, Europe's most active and largest volcano, draws visitors year-round. The current eruption, concentrated at the north-east crater and ongoing since Christmas Eve, has seen lava fronts reach 1,360 meters above sea level before cooling and ceasing advance, posing no threat to residential areas.

Guides aim for a compromise that ensures visitor safety while preserving their livelihood. Tourists, like those from Palermo, express disappointment over cancelled excursions. The situation highlights the delicate balance between managing a powerful natural phenomenon and supporting the local tourism industry that relies on its unique spectacle.