IS IT TRUE THAT MOUNT ETNA WAS RECENTLY BOMBED TO DIVERT ITS LAVA FLOW? IF SO, WHERE COULD I FIND INFORMATION ON THIS AND OTHER TECHNIQUES TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE EFFECTS OF VOLCANOES?

hazel richardson

No, it isn't true that Mt. Etna was bombed recently. What was done, however, was to set off some explosives in the margian of a lava channel. This caused the lava to leak out at a high elevaton and essentially forced it to "retrace its steps" down towards the populated areas. This probably helped to save the town of Zafaraina Etna, which was about to be over-run. There is an article in the Bulletin of Volcanology from a couple years ago that details some of the other attempts to divert this same lava flow. The author is Franco Barberi (and others), but I'm afraid I don't have the exact reference. Your nearest University library should have the Bulletin of Volcanology. There are also many books on volcanology and most of these have chapters on volcanic hazards and disasters, and ways to decrease the damage done by them.

Sincerely,
Scott Rowland

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