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Tourists and BBC crew suffer minor injuries in Mount Etna blast

Tourists and a BBC crew were among those who suffered minor injuries as a result of a blast at It...
Newstalk
Newstalk

16.50 16 Mar 2017


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Tourists and BBC crew suffer m...

Tourists and BBC crew suffer minor injuries in Mount Etna blast

Newstalk
Newstalk

16.50 16 Mar 2017


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Tourists and a BBC crew were among those who suffered minor injuries as a result of a blast at Italy's Mount Etna volcano.

According to BBC, the incident happened earlier today when lava ran into snow, creating a reaction that sent "fragments of rock flying in all directions".

10 people are reported to have been injured in the incident, although none of the injuries - which included burns, cuts and head injuries - are believed to be serious.

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BBC News science correspondent Rebecca Morelle described the incident as 'extremely scary'.

In a series of Twitter posts, she explained: "Volcanologist said most dangerous incident experience in his 30 year career [...] Incident could have been worse - explosions like this have killed - but seems minor injuries for now.

"Just confirmed - everyone taken off the mountain ok - rescue team and guides here were brilliant. We're heading down mountain now. Reminder of how dangerous & unpredictable volcanoes can be - everyone had a very lucky escape."

She added that a 78-year-old woman was very close to the blast, but managed to get away safely.

Mount Etna - located on the island of Sicily - is the largest active volcano in Europe.

The Guardian reports that there have been three eruptions at the volcano in recent weeks.


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