Mount Etna is about three thousand meters high. It is located in a densely populated area. The tsunami caused by it can lead to tens of thousands of victims.
The most active volcano in Europe, Etna, which is located on the Italian island of Sicily, slowly and inevitably slides into the Mediterranean Sea, which threatens the inhabitants of the Mediterranean with a tsunami, writes Science Alert.
“The entire slope is in motion due to gravity. Therefore, it is quite possible that it could collapse catastrophically, which could cause a tsunami throughout the Mediterranean,”explains geophysicist Heidrun Kopp of the Helmholtz Center for Geomorphological Research in Germany.
Although the exact reason for Etna's slow sliding at an average speed of 14 millimeters per year has not yet been fully explained, scientists previously believed that the shift could be caused by the build-up of magma pressure inside the volcano.
But new research shows that the volcano's slow slide into the Mediterranean is sporadic and largely due to instability due to gravitational forces rather than magma dynamics.
“In the case of Mount Etna, our analysis of the deformation of the coastline implies a greater danger of slope collapse than previously thought, as deep gravity slip could potentially lead to catastrophic collapse, the scientists say.
So far, there is no evidence that such a catastrophic collapse will occur anytime soon. But there is also no way to tell when it might happen. That is, a disaster can happen at any moment.
The height of Etna is about three thousand meters. Moreover, the volcano is located in a densely populated area. The fall and the tsunami caused by it can lead to tens of thousands of victims.
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