Etna on Monday 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 peak spewed ash and lapilli into an 11-kilometre-high column, forcing the closure of nearby Catania airport.
A southeastern breeze helped take the high and dense column of lavic ash across the eastern Sicilian 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 was also set to emit a fresh lava flow, experts said.
Volcanology institute INGV said it was the latest "paroxysm" in Etna's new phase of volcanic activity, which began a ear ago.
The INGV recently 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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