A HUGE volcano on the east coast of Sicily has erupted.
Dramatic footage shows Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, sending glowing lava and huge clouds of ash into the air.
Huge clouds can be seen rising from the mountain as a serene skier makes their way down the slopes, apparently unaware of the eruption.
Etna entered a new eruptive phase yesterday December 26, with Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirming the activity.
Jets of lava spurted over 1000ft into the air, the INGV said, adding that rock fragments were flung “several kilometres above the summit of Etna”.
A yellow alert has been issued, with many concerned about the nearby Fontanarossa airport.
Some flight delays have been reported, but no serious disruptions so far.
The yellow alert means increased monitoring and information sharing but for the moment, airports in the area remain open.
The INGV said that winds blew the huge ash cloud north-eastward.
Some ash landed on Piano Provenzana, a Sicilian ski resort on the side of the volcano itself.
Ash from Etna also reached the nearby town of Taormina.
The INGV said lava is still flowing after “strong explosions”, and has travelled around 2km east, towards Valle del Bove.
Eruptions began on Boxing Day, with “several hours of calm” before they started again on December 27.
The INGV reported activity at the Bocca Nuova crater and the northeast crater of Etna.
The volcano is more than 10,000ft tall, and also erupted in June.
Then, terrifying videos showed tourists fleeing for their lives as the mountain spewed smoke and hot ash.
Long lines of tourists could be seen snaking down the mountainside in the shadow of an enormous growing black cloud.
In February, a snowy ski slope on the side of Etna turned into a fiery peak as hot lava shot into the air.
Skiers had defied bans to witness the eruption close-up.
Mount Etna also erupted several times in February 2021, forcing a nearby airport to close temporarily.
In 2017, ten people including a BBC news crew were injured when Etna erupted.
