It rained ash

Etna active again: five-kilometer-high column of smoke

(Bild: APA/AFP or licensors)

Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna, has once again attracted attention with an eruption of lava. According to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Catania, a column of smoke five kilometers high, measured from sea level, developed on Saturday evening. Ash and dust rained down from the sky in some places in the surrounding area.

The Sicilian authorities reported that Catania airport, which is close to Mount Etna and had to be closed on Friday due to ash from the volcano, was able to resume operations on Sunday. The volcano on the Mediterranean island is around 3350 meters high. It is active again and again, most recently in mid-November.

A high column of smoke had formed over Mount Etna.(Bild: APA/AFP or licensors)

Safety measures on Stromboli
The Stromboli volcano on the Italian Mediterranean island of the same name north of Sicily continued to rumble. Excursions on the slopes of the volcano were suspended. Access to the island's beaches has been prohibited at night. In addition, boats are not allowed to stop near the volcano, the authorities announced.

The authorities have received numerous inquiries about the situation on the island, which is popular with tourists. However, the situation is under control and not a cause for concern, they said. On Wednesday, the highest red alert level was declared on the volcanic island north of Sicily due to large ash clouds.

Stromboli is part of the Aeolian Islands and attracts thousands of tourists every year. The volcano, which rises 920 meters out of the sea and is almost 3,000 meters high when measured from the seabed, is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, according to the INGV.