Ash cloud from Etna volcano at 4.0 km, Italy

A thin ash cloud from Etna volcano in the Sicily Volcanic Province, Italy, was observed at 4.0 km (13 000 feet) altitude at 10:00 UTC on September 30, 2026. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported the cloud moving south at about 35 km/h (25 mph). The observation was based on INGV VONA reports, web camera images, and satellite data.

The advisory described the ash cloud as thin and in the vicinity of the volcano, resulting from a weak ash emission at 05:25 UTC on September 29, 2026. Forecast models indicated ash cloud movement at the same altitude through the next 18 hours. The Aviation Color Code was set to orange for this event. Due to the low intensity, quantitative ash assessments were not provided.

Etna is one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, and is classified as a stratovolcano.