Methods of modifying the event of a volcanic hazard
'Modifying the event' of a hazard means changing how the volcanic eruption develops to make the immediate hazard less risky.
There are two main access routes into the Mount Etna National Park. Road access from the north-east is via the town of Linguaglossa. This is at a low risk of primary lava flows as the majority of the lava flows travel down the southern face of the volcano.
Here on the southern face, the volcanic activity is in direct conflict with human activity! To maintain the region's income generated from tourism and agriculture, the 'event needs to be modified'. This modification involves diverting the lava flows.
To stop the lava flows threatening villages such as Nicolosi (tourism - where the cable car allows visitors and skiers to access the summit) and Rocca and Ragaina (agriculture - peach orchards), dynamite has been used to blast old lava flows to form the walls to a diversion canal. The photograph below shows the 'walls' of a diversion canal that have been reinforced by hard engineering brick buttresses.
Copyright - JAR Photographs