Mount Etna, Sicily’s most active volcano, erupted on May 21, sending a dramatic display of lava and ash into the sky.
The eruption at the summit occurred after researchers had detected volcanic tremors a few days before.
“On May 17 we saw an increase in the amplitude of volcanic tremors and intense degassing accompanied by occasional, weak emissions from the northeastern crater,” said a statement from the Catania department of the Italian vulcanology and geophysics institute.
Vulcanologists have categorized the eruption as “Strombolian”, explosive bursts of activity during which ash, cinder and smoke are ejected from the crater with considerable force.
The last major Etna eruption was only five months ago.
