DAILY STAR
A European volcano is erupting and appears to be spewing out tornadoes as well as lava.
Iceland’s Litli-Hrútur, or ‘Little Ram’, started erupting on July 10. The volcano fissure measured roughly 2,600ft when it first blew, although it appears to have shrunk now.
Although volcanic eruptions aren’t uncommon in Iceland (the larger volcano Litli-Hrútur is a part of blew last year) breath-taking images show something rather unique this time round.
On July 24, drone photographer Martin Sanchez captured a tornado spinning around the crater.
It is thought the tornado was the result of heat from the lava warming the air above it, causing the air to rise and swirl.
Sanchez told Newsweek: “I have never seen this before in my life. I did capture the previous volcano eruptions here in Iceland but as a power drone pilot this was my first time flying a drone next to a Tornado and Volcano at the same time!”
David Smart, a tornado and storm researcher at University College London’s Hazard Centre, told Live Science: “This is a type of tornado that is sometimes seen where there is a strong heat source on the ground and the atmosphere is unstable in the lowest kilometre or so near the surface.
