The recent two-week eruption and flow of lava on Sicily’s Mount Etna has drawn an influx of visitors to see, and in some cases get too involved with the spectacular sights.
Local authorities have issued repeated warnings about trying to get too close and other foolish behavior, but there have still been many high-altitude selfies and other dangerous stunts.
“The volcano is not the bad guy; in this case, the bad guy is man,” according to Fabio Mancuso, the mayor of the town of Adrano, on Etna’s southwestern side. He and other local mayors have prohibited people from getting too close, with only partial effect. He told press that “Most people are following the ordinance, but unfortunately undisciplined [tourists] exist.”
La Repubblica daily published a photo on Friday of two men posing bare-chested in the snow in front of the glowing lava. At other points, illegally parked cars have kept emergency vehicles from roads leading to the summit.
