Tourists were nearby when the volcano erupted today (Picture: X/C.Aengenheyster)
Europe’s biggest active volcano has erupted, spewing hot ash several kilometres into the air.
A code red alert was issued after Mount Etna exploded earlier today, warning it could disrupt flights.
The eruption sent a pyroclastic flow – the same mix of hot rock, ash and gas that destroyed Pompeii – hurtling down the side of the mountain, possibly from the collapse of part of the crater.
Footage shows dozens of tourists running for their lives, dwarfed by the huge clouds of smoke erupting behind them.
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Volcanic steam rises from Mount Etna, near Motta Camastra, Sicily, today (Picture: Reuters)
Smoke rises from the crater today (Picture: Getty)
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse warned the aviation industry that an ash cloud, mainly made up of water and sulphur dioxide, was drifting south west.
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It was so big that the nearby town of Catania was plunged into almost darkness.
A live stream still shows a towering cloud above the volcano, though the main eruption has subsided.
Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanos, is on the Italian island of Sicily
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According to Giornale di Sicilia, strong tremors continue to be felt in the area and the flow of hot material was remain confined to one area, the Leone Valley.
There is also a small lava overflow at the southern edge of the crater with some lava flowing towards the Bove Valley.
Etna has been incredibly active throughout the first half of 2025, with lava bombs and fountains bursting out.
Last month, glowing lava burst out and poured down the mountain, with dramatic images showing the fiery flow.
Mount Etna exhibits a Strombolian eruption, with a volcanic plume rising from the southeast crater, seen from Catania, Italy, today (Picture: Getty)
Footage showed tourists running away as ash billowed up (Picture: @aurelienpouzin)
Etna is one of Sicily’s biggest tourist draws, but it is also a source of fear and speculation.
Some believe that French astrologer Nostradamus referred to a massive volcanic eruption taking place there in 2024 or 2025.
Given his French verses did not provide specific coordinates or even mention a volcano specifically, it’s all down to interpretation, and some think it was about nuclear weapons or an asteroid destroying us instead.
Is it safe to travel to Sicily?
The ‘code red’ alert issued earlier has now been downgraded to amber. This means there is still the potential for flights to be disrupted, and pilots should exercise caution.
Catania Airport, which sits at the foot of Mount Etna, remains fully operational. Departures are taking off on schedule, but arrivals from Berlin, Milan and Rome have been delayed this afternoon.
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