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State Department monitoring Mount Etna eruption; urges STEP enrollment and caution after dating-app safety alert
Summary
The State Department said it was monitoring Mount Etna's eruption and encouraged U.S. citizens in affected areas to follow local instructions and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program; the department also acknowledged a separate security alert about risks when using dating apps abroad and urged caution.
State Department spokesperson Sam said the department was "closely monitoring Mount Etna's eruption" and that it was "not aware of any U.S. citizens affected at this time." Sam urged U.S. citizens in affected areas to follow local emergency instructions and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at step.state.gov for consular messages and updates.
In response to a question about a security alert for Americans in Mexico related to dating apps, Sam said the department would check and encouraged travelers to be aware of risks when meeting strangers online. "People should, in fact, be aware of that wherever they are, when it comes to meeting strangers using the Internet," he said.
