At the end of May, three of the world’s most iconic volcanoes awoke at virtually the same time. The peculiarity of this phenomenon is that these volcanoes are located in three different parts of the globe, and have already been the source of impressive and destructive eruptions in the past.
The first of these volcanoes is Etna, located on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, the most active volcano in Europe and the world, rising to an altitude of 3,357 meters. The volcano is located in the subduction zone between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, and eruptive phases occur practically every year. The most recent eruption, on May 21, 2023, forced the closure of Catania Airport due to the rain of ash that fell on the city. Etna is an effusive volcano with lava flows and projections, but its danger level is considered low.
The second volcano to awaken is Merapi on the island of Java in Indonesia. Rising to an altitude of around 2,900 meters, it is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and its eruptions are often deadly for the population. The volcano is located on the subduction zone of the Australian tectonic plate with the Sunda plate, corresponding to the part of the Eurasian tectonic plate located in this area. Merapi is part of the group of volcanoes that make up the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano’s vicious, silica-rich lava flows with difficulty out of the crater, triggering significant explosive activity that can result in fiery clouds and impressive plumes of ash. Merapi last awoke on May 23, 2023, but the intensity of the lava outpourings and ash clouds observed have not yet forced the authorities to evacuate the surrounding population.
The third volcano to have awoken is Popocatepetl, located in Mexico, seventy kilometers from the capital Mexico City. The volcano rises to an altitude of 5,400 metres, and is mainly explosive, causing lava flows, fumaroles and plumes of ash and gas that can blanket the entire region. The volcano is located on the subduction zone between the North American tectonic plate and the Cocos tectonic plate off the coast of Central America, and is also part of the group of volcanoes making up the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano last erupted on May 19, 2023, forcing the closure of Mexico City’s two airports. Residents were obliged to take out their masks to prevent the risk of respiratory infections caused by the ash cloud.
Although they occurred almost simultaneously, the three eruptions are unrelated, as the volcanoes are located on different tectonic plates governed by different magma dynamics.
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