Mount Etna’s New Year’s eruption has ignited a clash between safety enforcers and tourism operators on Europe’s tallest active volcano. Instead of mesmerized crowds gathering under starry skies to watch rivers of molten rock, strict visitor limits have prompted tour guides to launch their first strike in decades, halting access and exposing tensions over risk and revenue in Sicily.
New Rules Reshape Visitor Access
Authorities in Catania imposed sweeping changes days after the January 1, 2026, eruption. Excursions now end at dusk, erasing the prime viewing window when lava glows against the fading light. Visitors must stay 200 meters from active flows, with groups capped at ten people. Forestry police patrol the slopes, backed by drones that track crowds and violations—21 citations issued in one night alone.
These measures followed a fissure opening at 2,000–2,100 meters in the Valle del Bove basin on Etna’s eastern flank. Lava poured from multiple vents, forming slow branches that stretched 3.14 kilometers and blanketed 550,000 square meters before halting at 1,360–1,420 meters elevation. Scientists from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology confirmed no threat to towns or infrastructure, yet officials overhauled access protocols immediately.
Europe’s Towering Force
Rising to 3,300 meters in eastern Sicily, Mount Etna stands as Europe’s highest volcano and one of the planet’s most restless. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage Site for its persistent activity, which has sculpted the landscape and sustained local life for millennia. Each year, 1.5 million visitors flock here—sightseers for distant views, hikers to crater rims—treating it as both natural wonder and research hub.
Etna’s routine includes summit explosions and rarer flank outflows. A June 2025 blast hurled ash skyward, prompting 40 tourists to evacuate. Such episodes keep officials on edge, especially amid the current December-January unrest.
Guides Strike Against Restrictions
Licensed guides, mandatory by Italian law above certain heights, blockaded access points in protest. They insist slow, predictable flows allow safe nighttime tours under expert supervision, as in past events. The dusk cutoff and buffer zone gut their core offerings, slashing income without proportional risk.
Authorities counter that uniform rules prevent chaos from crowds or sudden shifts in lava behavior. Past evacuations and enforcement headaches justify patrols and caps, they say, prioritizing collective safety over individual assessments.
Scientists Weigh In on Real Risks
Experts describe the activity as modest effusive flows—steady outpourings, not explosive blasts. The longest flow has cooled, presenting scant hazard from the lava itself. Primary dangers lie in winter’s steep terrain, fickle weather, and novice explorers venturing unguided.
Aviation adds another layer: Etna’s ash history disrupts Catania airport, handling 180,000 passengers over the holidays. Even contained flows prompt ground caution to avert broader shutdowns.
Economic Ripples and Tourist Fallout
Etna fuels Sicily’s tourism engine, part of 14 million annual visitors pre-pandemic. Lava hikes, 4×4 tours, and slope eateries sustain hundreds of outfits; volcanic soils yield €123 million in wine yearly, plus €50 million from certified Etna DOC labels. Restrictions hit close-up adventures hardest—some operators report 70 percent fewer premium trips—while lower-slope tastings and village outings persist.
Travelers face canceled bookings. Those eyeing lava encounters now settle for remote vistas or rerouted itineraries, blending frustration with sympathy for guides. Operators adapt with panoramic day hikes, historic trails, and horizon views of the smoldering peak.
The standoff pits guides’ experience against officials’ blanket policies. No major concessions yet; the strike endures as both sides dig in.
As cooled flows stabilize and talks unfold, Etna’s future access hangs in balance. Will rigid safeguards redefine visits to this geological icon, curtailing thrills for safer distances, or will dialogue restore flexibility? The outcome will shape safety standards, economic vitality, and the volcano’s draw for generations of explorers.
Sources:
Euronews – “Mount Etna tour guides protest new restrictions on visiting Europe’s most active volcano” – 7 January 2026
ABC News / Associated Press – “Volcano guides at Mount Etna are protesting over new safety rules” – 7 January 2026
ClickOrlando / Associated Press – “Europe’s most active volcano is erupting, and tour guides are told to stay away” – 7 January 2026
Türkiye Today – “Mount Etna tour guides strike over new safety restrictions” – 8 January 2026