In Photos: Volcano Erupts on Sicily’s Stromboli Island, 1 Killed

At least one person died after and 30 tourists were forced to jump into the sea after the volcanic eruption.

Smoke billows from the volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli, Wednesday, 3 July 2019.

(Photo: AP)

At least one person died after around 30 tourists were forced to jump into the sea in order to protect themselves after a volcano erupted on the Sicilian island of Stromboli on Wednesday, 3 July.

Civil protection authorities confirmed a hiker was killed during the eruption, AP reported.

Molten lava from the volcano ignited a series of fires, and people in the town of Ginostra were forced to either barricade themselves in houses or throw themselves into the sea to escape.

Italy has three main active volcanoes: Etna on Sicily, Vesuvius near Naples and Stromboli, which shares the name of the small Sicilian island.

Smoke billows from the volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli, Wednesday, 3 July 2019.

Civil protection authorities said a hiker was confirmed to have died in the eruption.

Witness Gianluca Giuffre described to Italian news agency Ansa as a “a very violent explosion followed by a shower of glowing lapilli and lava material.”

People in the town of Ginostra barricaded themselves in houses or threw themselves into the sea.

Around 30 tourists were forced to jump into the sea for safety.

(With inputs from AP)