Italy’s Mount Etna has erupted for the fifth time this summer, releasing ash over Sicily and causing temporary flight disruptions.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that the eruption began early Sunday, with surveillance footage showing a lava fountain creating a large ash cloud from around 3 a.m. local time.
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Ash was seen billowing from the volcano, reaching over 32,000 feet above nearby towns. The INGV reported that lava flows continue from the Bocca Nuova and Voragine craters.
Flights at Catania International Airport in Sicily were briefly halted on Sunday due to the ash, but officials have cautioned that further delays may occur due to the ongoing eruption.
What occurs prior to a volcanic eruption?
Mount Etna has been active throughout July, with multiple eruptions occurring since early in the month. Sunday’s eruption is the fifth strombolian event since late June.
Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is located at the convergent boundary where the African Plate meets the Eurasian Plate.
It is one of Europe’s tallest active volcanoes and the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps, standing at over 11,000 feet. It is also thought to have the longest recorded eruption history, with evidence of activity dating back to around 425 B.C.
