### Mount Etna Erupts in Sicily, Sending Ash and Gas Skyward

Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, has erupted on the Italian island of Sicily, launching a massive column of gas and ash into the atmosphere. Videos shared on social media captured the dramatic scenes of people fleeing the mountainside as the darkened sky above them became increasingly shrouded in smoke.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported in a widely circulated statement that the volcano was undergoing significant strombolian explosions, which are characterized by their explosive bursts of incandescent lava. The statement noted that the intensity of these explosions was growing.

In recent hours, there has been a slight ash fall reported in the Piano Vetore area, according to the institute. However, officials have since declared that the eruption has ceased. Reports from the Volcanic Discovery website indicated that volcanic tremors began around 10pm local time and escalated to their peak shortly before 1am.

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse, one of nine centres worldwide responsible for monitoring aviation-related volcanic risks, advised that the ash plume had ascended to approximately 6,400 meters. The advisory centre subsequently lowered the threat level to yellow late Monday afternoon.