Awe-Inspiring Etna

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 511, 14 November 1928, Page 9

Awe-Inspiring Etna

BLAZING CASCADES OF LAVA

Tourists Watch from Safe Distance

(United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 1.5 p.m. ROME, Tuesday. MOUNT ETNA is even more awe-inspiring to-day, the eruptions continuing from the enlarged principal outlet. The lava is falling in blazing cascades on the mountainside. This is more spectacular even than the devastation.

Thousands of tourists are observing the sight from a safe distance. The actual lava stream is diminishing. Giarre is now believed not to be endangered. The inhabitants of Riposo and GiArre, however, are without water. Catania is still anxious, in view of the fact that the eruption is of the same course and intensity as that oi t 669, which wiped out the city. In addition to the rebuilding of houses by the Government, the Pope has promised that new churches will be erected. The lava will be dynamited from the fields, the value of which will be enhanced, as it will be beneficially fertilised by the powdered lava. Unexpected good fortune has befallen a great number of the distressed people. They participated in a lottery on the Saturday before the disaster, and were overjoyed to learn that they had won £166,000. HIT AIR-POCKET OVER INFERNO Professor Ponte, in a thrilling flight

over the crater, narrowly escaped disaster. Owing to the heat of the red-hot lava, the airplane side-slipped in an air-pocket, lurched, and fell until it was only 70 feet from the inferno. The pilot, Lieutenant Zanelli, just righted the machine in time to fly clear. As the result of Professor Ponte’s investigation, experts are of the opinion that the main conduit of the crater is blocked, hence the eruptive violence of the lava, which has forced its way through the fissures. The increased thickness of the lava streams, however, is now impeding the progress of the flow. So far, the lava emitted totals 400,000,000 cubic metres. Professor Zungali, secretary of the Fascist organisation, officially reports that the damage amounts to £1,750,000.