Italy - Mt Etna

Question 1

Modifying event

Answer 1

• Italy has had some local-scale success with slowing and diverting lava flows from Etna
• Earth barriers, large concrete blocks dropped into the lava flow and channels dug to divert flowing lava away from settlement have been used

Question 2

Modifying vulnerability

Answer 2

Volcano Risk Service has been developed, work includes:
- Long-term analysis of the eruption patterns of individual volcanoes
- International comparison with similar eruptions elsewhere
- Constant monitoring eg. seismometers, tilt meters, analysis of gas emissions, weekly bulletins issued
- Well established alert-level sequence understood by emergency services, all levels of government and local communities (active community preparedness, eg. among the villages on the sloped of volcanoes such as Etna and Vesuvius)
- Research into most effective building design to resist ash falls, much work is carried out to identity types of houses most at risk, then offer affordable solutions, eg. adding pitched roof to an existing flat roof which will then shed ash fall

Question 3

Modifying loss

Answer 3

• With frequent eruptions from Etna, Italy is well practised in dealing with volcanic hazards
• Actions taken in modifying such events also help mitigate vulnerability and loss of
• Even so, houses, farms, livestock, orange and lemon groves and tourist facilities have been destroyed in recent decades
• Italian government has the resources to compensate individuals and businesses and restore infrastructure
• Casualties have been minimal thanks to timely evacuation based on accurate data and well-trained public services such as the fire service, police and military