Catania, Italy, June 4 : Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending a thick column of ash and smoke several kilometres into the air, though officials said the event posed no immediate threat to the local population.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that the eruption was triggered by a partial collapse of the volcano’s southeast crater, leading to flows of hot lava. The incident marked the 14th eruptive episode in recent months.
The area of danger was confined to the summit zone, which was closed to tourists as a precaution, according to Stefano Branca, an INGV official based in Catania.
“The lava flows have not breached the natural containment area and pose no danger to the population,” said Sicily’s regional president, Renato Schifani.
Catania airport raised its alert level following the eruption, but no flight disruptions were reported. By the afternoon, authorities confirmed the ash cloud emission had ceased. Tremors from the eruption were felt in nearby towns and villages on Etna’s slopes, according to local media reports. Videos circulating on social media showed tourists running down trails as smoke billowed in the distance.
Standing at nearly 3,300 metres (10,800 feet), Mount Etna dominates eastern Sicily with a surface area of about 1,200 square kilometres. Despite its frequent eruptions, the volcano remains a major tourist attraction with guided excursions regularly held along its flanks.
