Accidents on Stromboli volcano

Explosion and lethal accident: 20.10.2001

Report by Andrea Ercolani (guida vulcanologica C.R.G.A.V.S.)

On 20.10.2001 a sudden explosion occurred at 2.35h at the "central vent", which is on the side of Pizzo. It was probably a major "gas explosion which threw the lid into the air". Bombs then flew as far as the uppermost part of the vegetation where bush fires were started. At an altitude of about. 750m.a.s.l. one block was found measuring 1,2 x 0,6m. It was lying inside an impact crater and at 04.20h it was still hot. It contained "older, greyish material with some signs of melting on its underside". Pizzo was covered in Bombs mainly ranging from 20 to 40cm in size. More bombs were later also found in Rina Grande, right on the footpath (ca. 20 - 70 cm).

At the time of the explosion dozens of people, including children, were on the summit. Others were on the Vancori ridge. One of two German women, who had sat right on Pizzo, got severely injured. The woman who remained unharmed reported later: "Everything happened extremely quickly: We first did not even realize that things were flying towards us, and already bombs started to impact all around us." They tried to protect themselves in a crouching position. At that moment the other woman was hit on the back of her head by a falling rock. At that moment the other woman started to call for help.

Another German tourist who had, together with his friend, spent the night on the Vancori, rushed to the site of the accident. He attempted to help by applying the kiss of life and heart massage. At 04.45h the first rescuers arrived from the village of Stromboli (Andrea Ercolani was part of this team). A helicopter arrived at 8.15h. The injured woman was then flown to Messina hospital. Her state, at the time of the departure of the helicopter, was highly critical.

According to the Swiss newspaper «Tages Anzeiger» the woman later died.