Small volcano discovered near Rome airport

A small volcano vent has appeared near Rome’s International Fiumicino airport.

The geyser-like vent, which is nearly two metres wide, opened up and started shooting out steam and mud over the weekend.

Since then geologists have begun studying the hole, labelling it a ‘fumarole’, an opening in the earth’s crust.

The nearest possibly still active volcanic system in the area is the Monti Albani, an old but possibly not yet extinct volcanic complex located 20 km South East of the capital; but its last known activity there took place about 20,000 years ago. 

New volcanic activity in the suburban area of Rome itself is certainly not a completely impossible, but quite unlikely scenario. More data will be needed to shed light on this.