Mount Etna Erupts in Southern Italy, Forcing Tourists to Flee as Ash Plumes Rise [WATCH]

Italy’s Mount Etna erupted on Monday, sending thick columns of ash into the sky over Sicily and forcing tourists in the area to flee.

The eruption prompted a “code red” alert from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse, which confirmed that volcanic ash had begun falling across nearby regions.

Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, is the highest active volcano in Europe. The eruption began early Monday, with explosions shaking nearby homes and startling tourists on the mountain.

Incredible photo of the eruption of Mount #Etna pic.twitter.com/gZksNowUlW

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Visitors were seen rushing to evacuate the area as lava began to flow and ash filled the air.

Authorities monitoring the volcano confirmed that the event involved what they described as “strong strombolian activity.” Strombolian eruptions are characterized by explosive bursts of lava caused by gas bubbles within the magma.

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The eruption sent ash plumes as high as 6,400 meters, or approximately four miles into the atmosphere, according to the latest data from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.

Video footage posted to social media showed panicked tourists descending the mountainside as dark smoke billowed behind them. In one video, a local trekking guide recorded the scene as the plume of volcanic ash grew denser.

Mount Etna highest active volcano in Europe explodes into action. That’s a Pyroclastic flow, the gases and tephra can reach temperatures of about 1,000 °C (1,800 °F).🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋 pic.twitter.com/CvNlUMopQJ

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JUST IN – Insane close-up video of Mount Etna erupting

pic.twitter.com/RKvYe9q5P3

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Europe’s tallest active volcano, Mount Etna, has begun erupting in Italy. pic.twitter.com/aR8Ha1IxR5

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This morning: The moment Mount Etna erupted, chaos unfolded — terrified travelers were seen sprinting away as eyewitnesses described the scene as absolutely terrifying. June 02, 2025

Location: Sicily Italy 🇮🇹
Captured: JamieBoone pic.twitter.com/83jMjQFbJN

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Officials did not report any injuries at the time of the eruption. However, the ash fall created hazardous conditions across parts of eastern Sicily, prompting local authorities to monitor air traffic and advise caution for residents and visitors in the area.

Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and has erupted numerous times in recent decades. While activity is frequent, each eruption presents unique challenges depending on its intensity and the affected areas.

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre continued to monitor the situation closely and said additional updates would follow depending on changes in seismic activity or ash dispersion patterns.

As of Monday evening, the eruption was ongoing, with authorities maintaining the code red alert due to the risk posed to air travel and surrounding communities.

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