Mount Etna streams red-hot lava and sends ash rising more than 3,000ft in spectacular eruption

Mount Etna spewed smoke and ashes last night in a spectacular new eruption which caused flights to be cancelled.

The eruption at the southeastern crater began late on Tuesday afternoon and sent columns of ash rising more than 3,000ft into the air.

Small stones and dirt raining from the sky caused officials to close Catania’s airport, while emergency services in the nearby villages of Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo were on alert.

Footage taken by locals showed smoke glowing red and yellow and stretching for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit. 

Residents awoke to a layer of black ash covering their streets and cars in Catania, the island’s second largest city after Palermo.

Scroll down for video. 

Smoke and ash streams across the sky and over Palermo, the capital of Sicily, during Tuesday evening’s eruption

Mount Etna sends columns of sunset-lit smoke and ash rising rising more than 3,000ft in spectacular eruption on Tuesday evening over the harbour of Catania, Sicily

Mount Etna sends columns of sunset-lit smoke and ash rising rising more than 3,000ft in spectacular eruption on Tuesday evening over the harbour of Catania, Sicily

Lava streaming from Mount Etna yesterday. Small stones and dirt rained from the sky caused officials to close Catania's airport, while emergency services in the nearby villages of Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo were on alert

Lava streaming from Mount Etna yesterday. Small stones and dirt rained from the sky caused officials to close Catania’s airport, while emergency services in the nearby villages of Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo were on alert

A woman walks her dog through the aftermath this morning as a layer of black ash covers the streets of Catania, Sicily's second largest city

A woman walks her dog through the aftermath this morning as a layer of black ash covers the streets of Catania, Sicily’s second largest city 

Smoke and ash rises over a Sicilian harbour yesterday afternoon during the eruption.  The smoke glowed red and yellow in the sunset and stretched for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit

Smoke and ash rises over a Sicilian harbour yesterday afternoon during the eruption.  The smoke glowed red and yellow in the sunset and stretched for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit

Molten rock flies through the air around the snow-covered mountainside during the eruption

Molten rock flies through the air around the snow-covered mountainside during the eruption

Lava streams from the southwestern crater on Tuesday. Experts classified the eruption as Strombolian activity, a moderate eruption with continuous but relatively mild blasts and a shower of incandescent cinders, rocks and lava fragments.

Lava streams from the southwestern crater on Tuesday. Experts classified the eruption as Strombolian activity, a moderate eruption with continuous but relatively mild blasts and a shower of incandescent cinders, rocks and lava fragments.

A jet of molten rock spews from the top of the volcano last night. The 700,000-year-old volcano is also the second most active on Earth, after Hawaii's Mount Kilauea. Situated between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, it generates nearly constant eruptions of varying degrees. Each year it produces more than tens of million tons of lava and over 7 million tons of carbon dioxide, water and sulfur dioxide.

A jet of molten rock spews from the top of the volcano last night. The 700,000-year-old volcano is also the second most active on Earth, after Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea. Situated between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, it generates nearly constant eruptions of varying degrees. Each year it produces more than tens of million tons of lava and over 7 million tons of carbon dioxide, water and sulfur dioxide.

Ash climbing into the evening sky as red lava pours down the mountainside. At nearly 11,000 feet tall and 24 miles wide, Etna is the largest volcano in Europe.

Ash climbing into the evening sky as red lava pours down the mountainside. At nearly 11,000 feet tall and 24 miles wide, Etna is the largest volcano in Europe.

The eruption at the southeastern crater began late on Tuesday afternoon and sent columns of ash rising more than 3,000ft into the air.

The eruption at the southeastern crater began late on Tuesday afternoon and sent columns of ash rising more than 3,000ft into the air.

The eruption at the southeastern crater began late on Tuesday afternoon and sent columns of ash rising more than 3,000ft into the air

Footage taken by locals showed smoke glowing red and yellow stretching for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit.

Footage taken by locals showed smoke glowing red and yellow stretching for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit.

Footage taken by locals showed smoke glowing red and yellow stretching for miles across the evening sky as red-hot lava poured from the snow-capped summit. 

Experts classified the eruption as Strombolian activity, a moderate eruption with continuous but relatively mild blasts and a shower of incandescent cinders, rocks and lava fragments. 

The most extreme form of volcanic activity, Plinian eruptions, are characterised by explosive outbursts generating a dense mixture of gas and volcanic fragments that move at tremendous speed.

A Plinian eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under a blanket of ash.

At nearly 11,000 feet tall and 24 miles wide, Etna is the largest volcano in Europe.

The 700,000-year-old volcano is also the second most active on Earth, after Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea.

Situated between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, it generates nearly constant eruptions of varying degrees.

Smoke and ash fills the horizon over Palermo last night as Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted

Smoke and ash fills the horizon over Palermo last night as Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted

A huge column of black smoke and ash is spewed from Mount Etna last night

A huge column of black smoke and ash is spewed from Mount Etna last night

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, spews volcanic ash as it leaps into action, seen from the village of Catania, Italy February 16

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, spews volcanic ash as it leaps into action, seen from the village of Catania, Italy February 16

Streams of red hot lava are seen as Mount Etna erupts not far from the city of Catania

Streams of red hot lava are seen as Mount Etna erupts not far from the city of Catania

A river of lava descends from Mount Etna on Tuesday evening

A river of lava descends from Mount Etna on Tuesday evening

A street cleaner sweeps up black ash from the central square in Catania on Wednesday morning

A street cleaner sweeps up black ash from the central square in Catania on Wednesday morning

Black ash covering the streets of Catania on Wednesday morning

Black ash covering the streets of Catania on Wednesday morning

The start of the eruption at the snow-capped summit is seen against the backdrop of a clear night sky

The start of the eruption at the snow-capped summit is seen against the backdrop of a clear night sky

Hot lava billows from the crater as Mount Etna explodes on Tuesday afternoon

Hot lava billows from the crater as Mount Etna explodes on Tuesday afternoon

A spectacular eruption on Etna with lava and smoke being jetted into the evening sky over Sicily

A spectacular eruption on Etna with lava and smoke being jetted into the evening sky over Sicily

Lava explodes from the crater and smoke and ash are spewed into the evening air over Mount Etna

Lava explodes from the crater and smoke and ash are spewed into the evening air over Mount Etna

Ash and smoke billows from the snow-covered mountain on Tuesday

Ash and smoke billows from the snow-covered mountain on Tuesday

Streams of red-hot lava are seen streaming down Etna from the harbour in Catania, Sicily, on Tuesday night

Streams of red-hot lava are seen streaming down Etna from the harbour in Catania, Sicily, on Tuesday night

The streets of Catania are fogged with ash that starting falling in the afternoon and continued into the night as people made their way through the city

The streets of Catania are fogged with ash that starting falling in the afternoon and continued into the night as people made their way through the city

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, spews volcanic ash as it leaps into action, seen from the village of Catania

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, spews volcanic ash as it leaps into action, seen from the village of Catania

Large rock fragments ejected from the volacno (lapilli) are shown off by a resident of Catania after the eruption

Large rock fragments ejected from the volacno (lapilli) are shown off by a resident of Catania after the eruption

Smoke and ash covers the night sky in Sicily as a stream of red lava can be seen oozing from Mount Etna

Smoke and ash covers the night sky in Sicily as a stream of red lava can be seen oozing from Mount Etna

A resident covered his bonnet in plastic sheets and his windscreen with cardboard to protect his Jeep from the ash

A resident covered his bonnet in plastic sheets and his windscreen with cardboard to protect his Jeep from the ash

Each year it produces more than tens of million tons of lava and over 7 million tons of carbon dioxide, water and sulfur dioxide.

It’s most severe recent eruption occurred in March of 2017, when nearly a dozen people were injured.

But eruptions have been recorded as far back as 1500 BC, with a devastating eruption in 1169 causing an earthquake that killed an estimated 15,000 people.

In 1992, lava streaming down its slope threatened Zafferana, a town of 7,000, in what’s thought to be the most voluminous flank eruption in 300 years.

Soldiers used controlled explosions to divert the lava flow.   

A car with volcanic ash from Mount Etna falling on the city this afternoon during the volcano's strong explosive activity on February 16, 2021 in Catania, Italy

A car with volcanic ash from Mount Etna falling on the city this afternoon during the volcano’s strong explosive activity on February 16, 2021 in Catania, Italy

A Biblical jet of red-hewed smoke streams across the evening sky in Sicily

A Biblical jet of red-hewed smoke streams across the evening sky in Sicily   

Smoke pours from lava on the mountainside yesterday evening

Smoke pours from lava on the mountainside yesterday evening

Smoke pours from lava on the mountainside yesterday evening

Smoke and ash flow from Mount Etna on Tuesday. The eruption started at around 4pm

Smoke and ash flow from Mount Etna on Tuesday. The eruption started at around 4pm

Smoke and ash flow from Mount Etna on Tuesday. The eruption started at around 4pm

Smoke glowing red from the sunset cascades over a village as a stream of lava pours from Mount Etna in Sicily on Tuesday evening

Smoke glowing red from the sunset cascades over a village as a stream of lava pours from Mount Etna in Sicily on Tuesday evening 

A river of lava flows down Mount Etna on Tuesday afternoon as smoke and ash is spewed across the horizon

A river of lava flows down Mount Etna on Tuesday afternoon as smoke and ash is spewed across the horizon