Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted on Sunday, spewing ash over Catania, the largest city in eastern Sicily, and forcing the suspension of flights at that city's airport. No injuries were reported.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), which closely monitors Etna with instrumentation on the slopes, noticed that cloud cover on a rainy day prevented the eruption from being seen. This volcano usually offers a spectacular display of flaming lava during infrequent ejections, but it had not been seen because of the weather.
The crater of the volcano is about 3,300 meters high.
The institute reported that ash fell on Catania and at least one town on the inhabited slopes of Mount Etna. Authorities also reported that there were no injuries.
A person shows the ashes that fell in Sicily from the eruption of Etna. Photo EFE
Catania airport, meanwhile, reported that due to ashfall, flight operations were temporarily suspended.
The INGV said monitoring had recorded evidence of increased tremor activity in recent days. While people in the towns of Adrano and Biancavilla reported hearing loud explosions emanating from the volcano on Sunday.
Cars covered before falling ashes in Sicily. Photo EFE
Italy's national Civil Protection agency said in an alert Thursday that "sudden" variations in Etna's activity could occur in light of increased volcanic activity.
That same day, the Civil Defense of the region of Sicily issued a "red alert" in the area of Etna for the "very high probability of imminent or ongoing fall of lava flows."
According to a note from the agency, the head of the Civil Defense, Salvo Cocina, invited the municipal leaders of the area to activate "the community operational centers and the structures themselves, in addition to volunteering, following the measures of the national plan."
Mount Etna in February 2022. AP Photo
Etna's latest eruption began on November 27, 2022 and ended on February 14 this year. In 2021 and early last year there were also eruptions.
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