The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in Sicily in July 2024. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Facebook Fact-checks * Facebook posts ![\\"Loreben](\\" By Loreben Tuquero July 8, 2024 # Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in February 2021, not July 2024 #### If Your Time is short * The photo shows Mount Etna erupting in February 2021, not July 2024. * Mount Etna did erupt in July 2024, and the Catania Airport suspended operations only for a few hours. It reopened July 5. See the sources for this fact-check Red and black plumes rise from a volcano and cover the sky in a photo shared July 6 that appears to show a current volcanic eruption. \"Mount Etna ERUPTS in Sicily. Catania Airport closes as ash blankets the city,\" the caption of the Facebook post sharing the photo read. ![](\\" (Screenshot from Facebook) This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.) The photo does show Mount Etna erupting, but not in July 2024. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on July 29, 2024 in una publicación en Instagram Este video muestra un robo de votos en la elección del 2024 en Venezuela. ![\\"true\\"](\\" rulings/tom_ruling_falso/7afe5367c2d46afca69ca3f17ae24296.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" rulings/tom_ruling_falso.png\\") By Maria Briceño • July 30, 2024 A reverse-image search shows the photo was featured in two news reports about Mount Etna erupting in February 2021. Mount Etna did erupt in July 2024, and the resulting volcanic ash fallout caused the Catania Airport to suspend arrivals and departures temporarily, as it announced at 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 5. At 7:25 a.m. Eastern Time the same day, the airport said it had reopened for departures while limiting arrivals to two per hour. In its last update at 10:33 a.m. July 5, the Catania Airport said it has \"fully reopened,\" though it warned about temporary delays. But the Facebook post’s photo is years old and doesn’t show Mount Etna’s July 2024 eruption. We rate that claim False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post (archived), July 6, 2024 France24, Sicily\'s Catania airport reopens after Mount Etna eruption, July 5, 2024 Firstpost.com, Sicilians \'not worried\' that Mount Etna is erupting as they have \'seen worse\', Feb. 17, 2021 The Jakarta Post, Mount Etna spews smoke and ashes in spectacular new eruption, Feb. 17, 2021 The New York Times, A Dazzling Eruption of Lava Spews Out of Mount Etna, July 5, 2024 X post by Aeroporto di Catania, July 5, 2024 X post by Aeroporto di Catania, July 5, 2024 X post by Aeroporto di Catania, July 5, 2024 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Loreben Tuquero slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 8, 2024 in a Threads post: List shows settlements Donald Trump made to 10- to 13-year-old victims of child sex crimes. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 8, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Every single McDonald’s french fry comes exclusively from potatoes grown on Bill Gates-owned farmland.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 11, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in Sicily in July 2024. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 8, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 8, 2024 in Facebook posts: A 15-year-old named “Graci Mae Thompson” is missing. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • August 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" JB Pritzker stated on July 28, 2024 in in remarks on ABC\'s \"This Week\": Sen. J.D. Vance is “known for his obsession with couches.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 31, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on July 21, 2024 in social media posts: “100 million ballots (Democrats) prefilled now have the wrong name.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 29, 2024 ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on July 18, 2024 in Instagram posts: Financial advisory company Austin Private Wealth shorted 12 million shares of Trump Media July 12, the day before former President Donald Trump’s attempted assassination. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 25, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 21, 2024 in X posts: The absence of the presidential seal on President Joe Biden’s letter announcing his exit from the presidential race proves “this wasn’t Biden’s choice.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 23, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 21, 2024 in an X post: A July 21 video aired by PBS News shows President Joe Biden’s “first video address following dropping out of the presidential race.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 22, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 15, 2024 in a Threads post: Photo shows that two days after former President Donald Trump’s attempted assassination, the top part of his ear “grew back.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 16, 2024 ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on July 14, 2024 in Instagram posts: The shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump was “Maxwell Yearick.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 16, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 14, 2024 in a Threads post: Photo shows the Instagram account of shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, with the bio, “In my quest to end Epsteins evil empire.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 15, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 14, 2024 in Threads posts: Photo shows Secret Service agents smiling while escorting Donald Trump offstage after assassination attempt. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 15, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 13, 2024 in a Threads post: “Trump rally shooter has been identified as 32-year-old California resident, Hank Pecker.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 14, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on July 11, 2024 in social media posts: BBC News published a graphic quoting President Joe Biden saying, “Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: [inaudible].” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 12, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on July 8, 2024 in a Threads post: List shows settlements Donald Trump made to 10- to 13-year-old victims of child sex crimes. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 8, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Every single McDonald’s french fry comes exclusively from potatoes grown on Bill Gates-owned farmland.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 11, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on July 6, 2024 in a Facebook post: Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in Sicily in July 2024. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 8, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 8, 2024 in Facebook posts: A 15-year-old named “Graci Mae Thompson” is missing. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • August 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" JB Pritzker stated on July 28, 2024 in in remarks on ABC\'s \"This Week\": Sen. J.D. Vance is “known for his obsession with couches.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • July 31, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on July 21, 2024 in social media posts: “100 million ballots (Democrats) prefilled now have the wrong name.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • July 29, 2024 ### Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in February 2021, not July 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on August 22, 2024 in an Instagram post: Maxine Waters told her followers on X not to follow Omar Navarro because he is a “Hispanic Republican.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • August 23, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Sam Brown stated on August 9, 2024 in an X post: Jacky Rosen “said ending taxes on tips would ‘hurt working Nevada families.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Seth A. Richardson • August 23, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Elissa Slotkin stated on August 9, 2024 in Meta ad: Mike Rogers “left Michigan to trade on his D.C. connections, helping Chinese tech companies get access to the U.S.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • August 23, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on August 21, 2024 in a Truth Social post: “The Harris-Biden Administration has been caught fraudulently manipulating Job Statistics.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • August 23, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on August 18, 2024 in X posts: Pallets of bricks were left all over the streets of Chicago before the Democratic National Convention. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • August 23, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Eric Hovde stated on August 13, 2024 in Public appearance: Says U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin “has done absolutely nothing” about the fentanyl crisis. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Laura Schulte • August 22, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on August 19, 2024 in in social media posts: Videos show Kamala Harris intoxicated. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • August 22, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 17, 2024 in a Facebook post: Video shows former President Donald Trump thought he was in North Carolina while he spoke in Pennsylvania. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 22, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on August 19, 2024 in Threads posts: The Democratic National Convention was “nearly empty” during its first day. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • August 22, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" J.D. Vance stated on August 16, 2024 in a post on X: “Kamala Harris wants to give $25,000 to illegal aliens to buy American homes.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • August 22, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. 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Photo shows Mount Etna erupting in Sicily in July 2024