A BBC camera crew was on Mount Etna in Sicily on Thursday when the volcano suddenly erupted while cameras were rolling. The resulting footage shows the terrifying moments in which journalists and tourists fled from the explosion that rained down super hot rocks.
Here’s the video shot by BBC camerawoman and photographer Rachel Price of the UK:
"Very relieved to be safe" – the terrifying moment @BBCMorelle and crew were caught up in Mount Etna eruption https://t.co/11inHwxYPO pic.twitter.com/Zz0JKmWU1v
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 16, 2017
Journalist Rebecca Morelle reported on the explosion live in a series of Tweets:
Caught up in incident at Mount Etna – bbc crew & tourists caught up in huge explosion – caused injuries and evacuation from scene. (1)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Lava flow mixed with steam – caused huge explosion – group pelted with boiling rocks and steam. (2)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Many injured – some head injuries, burns, cuts and bruises. Volcanologist said most dangerous incident experience in his 30 year career (3)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Incident could have been worse – explosions like this have killed – but seems minor injuries for now. (4)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Bbc team all ok – some cuts/ bruises and burns. Very shaken though – it was extremely scary. (5)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Running down a mountain pelted by rocks, dodging burning boulders and boiling steam – not an experience I ever ever want to repeat (8)
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Camerawoman Rachel Price had a falling rock burn a hole through her coat:
Back at hotel now after Etna explosion. Here's @NewsCamerawoman with the massive hole a lump of rock burnt through her coat. pic.twitter.com/GVSyj3Sa9A
— Rebecca Morelle (@BBCMorelle) March 16, 2017
Thankfully, the BBC News crew and the tourists around them all escaped with their lives. Other photographers caught in volcanic eruptions in the past weren’t so fortunate: during the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption, photographer Robert Landsberg realized he couldn’t outrun the ash cloud, so he kept on shooting and then used his body to protect his camera and film.
