Europe’s biggest volcano erupts (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

A red alert was temporarily issued for flights after the eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy Read Full Article at RT.com

Europe’s biggest volcano erupts (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

A temporary ‘red alert’ for flights was issued after activity at Mount Etna in Italy

Europe’s tallest active volcano, Mount Etna, has erupted once again, launching lava more than a kilometer into the air above its southeast crater, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) has reported.  

The eruption on the Italian isle of Sicily, which is the first in three months, came after several days of volcanic tremors and the emission of large clouds of scalding gasses.  

A fountain of molten rock was seen surging into the air while lava made its way down Etna’s slopes. The resulting clouds of ash were carried to coastal towns north of Catania, peppering the nearby counties and covering cars and buildings, according to the Etna Observatory.

The volcanic ash will settle and provide fertile soil for the surrounding vineyards and gardens, another reminder of the relationship that local farmers share with the mountain on their doorstep. 

Smoke billows from Mt. Etna volcano, as seen from the Magazzeni church near the village of Sant'Alfio, north of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy, Sunday, November 12, 2023. ©  AP Photo / Salvatore Allegra

The notoriously unpredictable Mount Etna is the most active volcano in Europe, and on average erupted once a month between 2021 and 2022.