Mount Etna erupts sending tourists fleeing for lives as volcano explodes
Watch shocking footage of tourists fleeing from the eruption in the video player
Annabel Bate,
MOUNT Etna has dramatically erupted, sending holidaymakers fleeing for their lives as smoke billowed from the mountain.
The highest active volcano in Europe began to erupt this morning in tourist hotspot Sicily, Italy, but has escalated to "explosions of growing intensity".
Mount Etna erupting, with people taking photos.
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Shocked tourists filming the explosionCredit: @aurelienpouzin
Volcanic eruption viewed from a city street.
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Smoke could be seen over crowds
Volcanic eruption with onlookers.
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Mount Etna has dramatically erupted
Aerial view of Mount Etna erupting with a plume of smoke over Catania, Italy.
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Mount Etna exhibits a Strombolian eruption, with a volcanic plume rising from the southeast craterCredit: Getty
Shocking footage shows tourists desperately running for their lives as a gargantuan ash cloud forms above them.
An avalanche of boiling rock, ash, and gas is seen spewing from the mountain, with smoke visible for miles.
A terrifying volcanic tremor was felt just moments before the eruption.
The tremor began at roughly 10pm last night before reaching a peak three hours later in the middle of the night.
It was localised at an altitude of 2.8km below the crater area.
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Toulouse (VAAC) issued a brief "code red" for aviation due to the eruption today.
This was downgraded to orange three hours after it was initially issued, and currently stays at orange.
They explained that an ash cloud made predominantly of water and sulphur dioxide was "drifting towards the south west".
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Eruptions previously around the world have seen planes grounded for days due to risks posed by the volcano.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said: "Over the past few hours, the activity flagged in the previous statement issued at 4.14am (3.14am BST) has carried on with strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous."
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In the past, Etna’s eruptions have caused nearby towns to be covered in black volcanic ash.
The mountain is one of the most active volcanoes in southern Italy, with the last eruption occurring in May.
In February, Mount Etna turned into a fiery peak as hot lava spewed from the erupting volcano.
Marco Bassot, who has 416,000 Instagram followers, captured the moment on camera.
Snowboarder Marco said: “This fracture started some days ago and created a huge, intense and impressive lava flow for more than 1,000 meters.
“I’ve seen many things in my 40 years of life but riding side by side of a flowing river of lava is one of the most special, impressive, and breathtaking experiences I’ve ever lived.”
Volcanic eruption at Mount Etna, Sicily.
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Volcanic steam rises from Mount EtnaCredit: Reuters
Mount Etna erupting at sunrise.
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Volcanic steam rises at sunrise from Mount Etna
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