Etna on Wednesday belched out
another lava plume and column of ashy smoke in the latest of a
string of spectacular eruptions from Europe's tallest active
volcano.
The iconic volcano spewed ash and lapilli into a kilometre-high
column.
The ash was scattered onto nearby Catania but the eastern
Sicilian city's airport's air space was not closed, as it has
been for some recent eruptions.
A southeastern breeze helped take the high and dense column of
lavic ash across the city.
Lapilli also fell onto a number of smaller towns and villages
on Etna's southern slopes including Nicolosi, Trecastagni,
Pedara, Aci Sant'Antonio and San Gregorio, where the blasts
rattled windows and doors.
The volcano also emitted a fresh lava flow.
Volcanology institute INGV said it was the latest "paroxysm" in
Etna's new phase of volcanic activity, which began in
mid-February.
The INGV also said it had found the "beating heart" of the
volcano which is fuelling the activity, and "the energy inside
the volcano is increasing".
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