Volcanic eruption that claimed hiker’s life is caught on camera… by friend who was with him: Terrifying footage shows explosion of rock, a deafening boom – and panic as the men try to flee
- Brazilian hiker captured the terrifying moment Stromboli volcano erupted
- He had been climbing the mountain with his Sicilian friend Massimo Imbesi
- Dramatic video shows rocks and molten lava hurtling towards the two men
- Imbesi, 25, was tragically struck and killed by a rock during violent eruption
- Around a thousand tourists have since fled the island for the Calabrian coast
Brazilian man Thiago Takeuti captured the terrifying moment a volcano on the small Italian island of Stromboli violently erupted, killing his friend and fellow hiker Massimo Imbesi moments later.
The friends had begun climbing the mountain when it was rocked by two powerful explosions sending huge plumes of ash and smoke more than a mile into the air.
The video captured chaotic scenes as the men started to sprint away and the deafening blast as the volcano erupted in the background.
Imbesi and his friend had begun climbing the mountain when it was rocked by two powerful explosions. sending huge plumes of ash and smoke two kilometres into the air
The ground shakes as rocks and lava are hurled in the direction of the unsuspecting hikers
Brazilian man Thiago Takeuti (pictured) captured the terrifying moment a volcano on the small Italian island of Stromboli violently erupted, killing his friend and fellow hiker Massimo Imbesi moments later
The ground shook as rocks and lava were hurled in the direction of the unsuspecting hikers.
Moments later, Imbesi, 35, from Sicily was killed when he was struck by a falling rock.
His friend, who filmed the video, was found dehydrated and in a state of shock, according to local media.
Terrified tourists in the local town of Ginostra at the volcano’s base fled into the sea when they heard the eruption.
American tourist and father Peter Bridges told MailOnline: ‘When the boom first went off and the debris started flying we thought there could be more of this, we were all thinking this could get much worse, so the thought [of death] does cross your mind.’
‘People were screaming and running – out of houses, out of restaurants. We stopped to take a few photos, but then a man told us we had to go because rocks could hit us from where we were.’
Imbesi, 35, (pictured) from Sicily was killed when he was struck by a falling rock
![American tourist and father Peter Bridges told MailOnline: 'When the boom first went off and the debris started flying we thought there could be more of this, we were all thinking this could get much worse, so the thought [of death] does cross your mind'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/05/16/15678342-7217275-image-a-34_1562339851959.jpg)
American tourist and father Peter Bridges told MailOnline: ‘When the boom first went off and the debris started flying we thought there could be more of this, we were all thinking this could get much worse, so the thought [of death] does cross your mind’
Canadair waterbombing planes battled to put out fires while a huge clean-up operation was established in the village of Ginostra
Italian authorities confirmed one person was killed and several others sustained non life-threatening injuries in the eruption.
Around 1,000 tourists on Wednesday fled the island aboard ferries to the nearby Calabrian coast. Seventy people were evacuated from Ginostra, on the volcano’s southwest flank.
Canadair waterbombing planes battled to put out fires while a huge clean-up operation was established in the village of Ginostra, with workers sweeping away layers of ash and cinders.
The UK Foreign Office changed its travel advice for Italy, saying: ‘Local authorities have responded and are monitoring the situation; there are no reports of significant impact on populated areas, but local authorities are assisting those on the island who wish to leave; if you’re in the area, you should follow the advice of local authorities.’
Around 1,000 tourists on Wednesday fled the island aboard ferries to the nearby Calabrian coast
Seventy people were evacuated from Ginostra, on the volcano’s southwest flank