Huge clouds of ash have exploded from Mount Etna, as a pyroclastic flow hurtles down the side of the volcano.
Tourists visiting the site were forced to run for their lives after a ginormous ash cloud erupted behind them.
The most active volcano in Europe had been experiencing some activity in the last few hours with volcanic tremors felt overnight but has escalated to continuous ‘explosions of growing intensity’.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etnean Observatory, said a pyroclastic flow – an avalanche of burning ash careening down the slopes at a fast-pace and high-density – was ‘probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the South-East Crater’.
A red aviation warning was briefly issued by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse but has now turned to orange.
The ominous ash cloud is said to mainly consist of water and sulfur dioxide and was ‘drifting towards the south west’.
Italy‘s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said earlier this morning: ‘Over the past few hours, the activity flagged in the previous statement issued at 4.14am (3.14am BST) has carried on with strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous.
‘Over the past few hours, the falling of a little thin ash has been flagged in the Piano Vetore area.’
In shocking footage seen online, dozens of holidaymakers began running along a ledge of the volcano, with the ginormous ash cloud growing behind them
Huge plumes of ash were seen spewed out of the most active volcano in Europe
Users on social media have been sharing footage of the horrifying ash cloud that is threatening to cover the Italian island
The terrifying volcanic tremor began just after 10pm last night, reaching its peak three hours later at about 2.8km below the crater.
A livestream of the volcano captured the terrifying moment and users can watch the cloud descend over the island.
Activity has calmed in the last hour but the threatening grey cloud is still visible.
Mount Etna, located on the eastern coast of Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes worldwide and has been going through an especially active period for the last five years.
Mount Etna exhibits a Strombolian eruption, with a volcanic plume rising from the southeast crater
Huge clouds of ash could be seen from local towns on the Italian island
Crowds look on in shock as a ginormous ash cloud begins to cover the city of Catania
Volcanic steam rises from Mount Etna, near Motta Camastra, Sicily, Italy
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
