STROMBOLI ERUPTS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1921, Page 3

STROMBOLI ERUPTS

A BAirOUTBREAK. EXPLOSIONS AND LAVA. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ” TIIE TIMES ” SERVICE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ROME, June 28. After ominious rumblings Stromboli erupted, it being one of the worst in its history. Dense 'clouds of steam, with violent explosions and streams of incandescent stones were .hurled to a great height, causing fires on the mountain side. Showers of ashes obscured the horizon for hours. The population in the neighbourhood had difficulty in breathing. The’ panic spread, increasing at nh)fet. wholly indescribable terror ®7efgued, the people ruStfffiJgtn ‘he shore and entering the sea, crowding the boats, several of which were swamped and it is believed a number of persons were drowned, but the impenetratable darkness prevented details being obtained. Torpedo boats rushed from Messina with orders to * wireless the islands’ needs. THE SITUATION. Stromboli forms one of the Lipari Islands which are situated to the north of the eastern half of Sicily and westward of the toe of Italy. The seven principal islands of the group are Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Panaria, Filiciidi and Alieudi; besides which there are ten islets, some ot Them mere rocks, the remains ot a great central volcano now submerajfd The total population is about 18f|f»00, and the area is less than Jo sepia-re

miles. ' .Y-- A little more than 20 miles to the . north-north-east of Lipari, the cone ot *** ,~>-Btprmty>li rises from the sea to a height of .‘1022 feet. It is of special interest to the volcanologist from the fact that it is the only example in Europe of a volcano in a state ot con- \ stunt activity, and also because, from kn elevated "point above the crater , (which is at the side of the cone below \ the- 1 summit), it is possible, when the ,'wind brows away from the observer, to Vif for hours ahd watch the operations giing on within the crater. Buoli obsjrv’ations, carried out in 1788 by ,;b Smllnnzaivi, made him the lather of \<3 |odern vulcanology, and furnished tone of the most important data upon melt the science is fyw*tfied.