Wednesday February 28, 5:10 AM  
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Lava-spewing volcano prompts state of emergency on Italian island*

A state of emergency was declared on Italy's tiny, windswept island of
Stromboli Tuesday after its volcano sprang to life with the opening of
two new lava-spewing faults, the civil guard said.

Stromboli, one of Europe's most active volcanos, had recently been
placed under heightened surveillance after scientists registered higher
readings.

The civilian guard said Tuesday that it had registered an "important
increase" in volcanic activity.

It decided to put its emergency plan into action after discovering lava
spewing from two new faults, adding that one of the lava streams had
already reached the sea.

For the moment, "there is no sign of a large-scale collapse or flow that
could induce a tidal wave," said scientist Enzo Boschi, quoted by news
agency ANSA.

Boschi, an expert at Italy's national volcanology institute, said the
situation was under "constant surveillance and all precautions had been
taken to ensure the security of the population."

Helicopters, planes and boats of fire-fighters and the coastguard had
made their way to the Aeolian island, situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea
north of Sicily.

Many buildings, including two oil containers, have been evacuated as a
precautionary measure and residents have been told to stay away from the
coastline.

In December 2002 an eruption on Stromboli provoked a lava flow of two
million cubic metres (around 70 million cubic feet) of volcanic rock
into the sea, resulting in a huge tidal wave around the island which
caused serious damage.

The small island is home to some 400 people and attracts up to 6,000
tourists every year.

Last December, Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, erupted
causing a flow of a hundred metres (330 feet).