Spectacular show as Italian volcano Mount Etna erupts

One of the most active volcanoes erupts and authorities say while nearby towns are not at risk, they are watching the situation.

Wednesday 17 February 2021 06:59, UK

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Officials at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the activity took place on the southeast crater.
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Mount Etna has erupted, sending smoke and ash into the sky and forcing a nearby airport to close temporarily.

Etna, at 3,350m high, is on the Italian island of Sicily and is one of the world's most active volcanoes.

There were no reports of injuries or damage.

Streams of red hot lava flow as Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, leaps into action, seen from Giarre, Italy, February 16, 2021. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
Image: The volcano erupted and sent ash and smoke into the sky
A view of the Mount Etna eruption spewing ash, as seen from Paterno, Italy, in this image obtained from social media dated February 16, 2021. LUIGI SENNA/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Image: Nearby towns were being monitored by authorities. Pic: Luigi Senna

The Department of Civil Protection said nearby centres were not at risk, although Italy's Central Emergency Department said it was watching the towns of Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo.

The airport at Catania had to close due to ash, which had risen more than a kilometre into the air and made it unsafe to fly, the Ansa news agency reported.

Large streams of red hot lava shoot into the night sky as Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, leaps into action, seen from the village of Fornazzo, in Catania, Italy, Feburary 15, 2021. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello
Image: The volcano has erupted many times, including last year

Photos shared on social media showed ash raining down on houses and a tall column of smoke coming from the mountain and stretching over the buildings below.

Stefano Branco, head of the INGV National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology, told Italian news agency AGI that the latest burst of activity was "not at all worrying", adding: "We've seen worse".

By the early hours of Wednesday volcanic activity had started to ease.