Martin Biermeier

We are standing at 926 meters altitude, right on the active volcano Stromboli. To the right, sulfur and gas clouds rise constantly from the craters. With the changing wind direction, you can suddenly find yourself inside a dense cloud – a mix of sulfur, ash, and toxic gases.

👉 Without a mask: instant coughing, burning lungs, watery eyes – extremely unpleasant and above all, unhealthy.
👉 With a mask: we can move around relatively safely. This protection is the only reason we can fly drones for hours so close to the crater.

👉 Still, we often see people who don’t take respiratory protection seriously.
So, if you happen to be near a volcano, please protect yourself.

🎥 Watch our videos and experience what it feels like to stand on one of Europe’s most active volcanoes – right where the Earth breathes! 🌍🔥
#Stromboli #Volcano #DroneFlight #Adventure #NaturePower #VolcanoExploration #TravelExperience

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Martin Biermeier

Daniela and I are at 776 m to see the view of the #volcanic #crater, I’d have to turn my head 180 degrees.
When the view downward is missing, the connection to the familiar surroundings and people is gone. The closed cloud cover had something of a new #horizon. It felt #unreal, perhaps the #photo conveys a bit of that.

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Martin Biermeier

It may look peaceful, but #Mount #Vesuvius is not extinct.
Its last #eruption was about 80 years ago, from March 18 to 29, 1944, when lava destroyed entire villages.

Even today, the #volcano shows clear signs of activity:
🔥 #Fumaroles (gas emissions) rise from the crater rim, with temperatures reaching up to 400 °C.
🌫️ Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) key gases in volcano monitoring, are released regularly.
📡 Vesuvius is monitored around the clock by #INGV and is considered a volcano in a quiescent state, but it still shows seismic #activity.
⚠️ From a #geological perspective, the last eruption was just a moment ago. A new eruption could occur at any time, though there are currently no clear signs of one. Millions of people live nearby, which is why Vesuvius remains one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in #Europe.

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Martin Biermeier

Graphic one just how densely populated the area around #Mount #Vesuvius is, emphasizing the enormous challenge an #eruption would pose for #evacuation and civil protection.

Vesuvius Risk Zones with Key Areas and Estimated Population.
🔴 Red Zone (25 municipalities incl. Ercolano, Torre del Greco, eastern Naples districts)
Estimated Population: 670,000
🟡 Yellow Zone (e.g. Nola, Avellino, Castellammare di Stabia)
Estimated Population: 1,500,000
⚫ Naples (City Center)
Estimated Population: 300,000

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Martin Biermeier

When Daniela and I climbed Mount Vesuvius, we were immediately struck by the sheer size of the volcano. What fascinated us most were the many visible layers formed by various eruptions over the centuries—truly a window into the past. Some of the photos we took capture these geological layers in great detail. And one thing is certain: we’ll definitely return someday to uncover even more details.

What also left us deeply reflective was the view over Naples and the surrounding region. As we drove through the city, it quickly became clear: if Vesuvius ever erupts again, there would be no real way to escape in an emergency. The traffic was chaotic, with congestion and crowds everywhere. In a situation marked by panic and urgency, we wouldn’t stand a chance of fleeing quickly by car. The thought that people in this densely populated urban area would all be trying to escape at the same time only reinforced our impression that there are hardly any truly safe evacuation routes.

Of course, there is an official emergency plan, the so-called Piano di Emergenza Vesuvio, an evacuation strategy designed to ensure that people in high-risk zones can be moved to safety in the event of an eruption. The plan includes not only evacuations, but also temporary shelters and medical care. But considering the traffic chaos and the high population density, we couldn't help but wonder how quickly this plan could actually be put into action. Can people really be evacuated fast enough, or is the plan more of a theoretical safety net that might not work so well in practice?

What do you think? Have you ever heard of the Piano di Emergenza Vesuvio? Do you believe the evacuation plans are truly sufficient, or are they more of a theoretical safeguard that might fall short when it really matters?

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 6

Martin Biermeier

In January 2013, DJI released the Phantom I, a drone that marked the beginning for us. It didn’t yet have a gimbal, but paired with a GoPro Hero 3, which had just come out, it was already capable of capturing impressive footage. That same year, we traveled to Stromboli for the first time. The 2200 mAh LiPo battery offered around ten minutes of flight time. Despite the technical limitations, we knew immediately: this was our opportunity. Compact, lightweight, and even a total loss during a volcano mission would have been manageable. What would really hurt, though, was the thought of the project itself failing. The biggest challenge wasn’t the drone. It was the preparation, the travel, the effort to secure permits, and the ability to move freely in an active volcanic zone. Every image we look at today is more than just a photo. It represents a complex chain of planning, risk, and personal commitment. Yes, that’s how it all contact for us.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Martin Biermeier

My thought: Do I dare to get so close to the active crater? I have to ignore the forbidden zone. And then you stand there, overwhelmed, and it grabs you. I can’t really describe it, but it felt like connection and trust. And then it happened: the earth stirred, just as I had hoped. A moment that stays with you. Daniela watched the whole thing from a shelter. Well, someone had to take the photo. (-; Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince her to come there with me. It just wasn’t her day for such an adventure.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Martin Biermeier

Northeast of Stromboli, a dark rock rises from the sea, Strombolicchio. Solitary. Majestic. Shaped by the raw power of nature. 🌋 About 1.5 kilometers from Stromboli’s main village, this stone tower emerges from the waves. Around 200,000 years ago, Strombolicchio was part of an active volcano. What now stands as a rocky pinnacle was once the inner magma conduit through which molten lava surged. When the volcano became extinct, this solid core remained, sculpted by the sea, weathered by the wind. Not legend, but geology created this island. Not a rock flung into the sea, but the hardened witness of a long-forgotten fire. We paddled from Stromboli to Strombolicchio by kayak. As we circled it, we felt a moment where that ancient fire seemed to come alive once more. 🌊🔥 Photos will follow at a later time. Today, Strombolicchio is a silent monument. Life clings only sparsely: rare plants grow on the rock, seabirds find rest. At its summit, a small lighthouse watches over the sea, a lonely light in the darkness. 🌬️✨ Strombolicchio, the stone heart of an ancient volcano, standing defiant against time.

4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Martin Biermeier

#Stromboli is one of the most active #volcanoes in the #world and has shown nearly continuous #activity for at least 2,000 years. Typically, this is expressed through regular #explosions occurring every few minutes to hours, and larger #eruptions during which glowing fragments of #lava, #scoria, and #ash are ejected. This characteristic behavior is referred to as #strombolian #activity. In addition to this continuous activity, there are effusive #eruptions at irregular intervals, during which #lava flows. These lava flows usually move over the #Sciara del Fuoco, a steep, horseshoe-shaped depression on the northwest side of the #volcano that formed about 6,000 years ago. These lava flows now also regularly reach the #sea, but generally run away from inhabited areas and are therefore considered less dangerous."

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Martin Biermeier

The #shelters on #Stromboli - built to offer protection from the destructive #lava #bombs 💣 💥. Since the #volcano 🌋 has become increasingly active, they are the last refuge for those who venture into the #danger #zone 🚷⚠️. Solid walls against the rain of fire and ash, but no building is invincible against the elemental force of nature. This is where the decision is made: safety or illusion?

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 2