Italy’s Mount Etna volcano erupts, spewing smoke and ‘a rain of stones’

Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted on Tuesday, creating a fountain of lava and sending plumes of orange smoke into the sky.

The eruption forced Sicily’s Catania Airport to temporarily close — which often happens when the volcano is active.

No injuries or deaths have been reported.

Residents in the village of Pedara near the crater said it spewed not only ash, but also big chunks of volcanic stones throughout the area.

“It was a rain of stones,” resident Letizia Olivieri told the Associated Press. “Something I never saw in my entire life.”

The Sicilian village was in emergency mode, the mayor said, as residents and municipal teams worked to clean up the ashes on the street Wednesday.

The Etna volcano in Catania, Sicily, erupts and unleashes a high cloud of lava ash.

Handout/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images

Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted on Feb. 17, 2021.

Handout/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images

The eruption created a fountain of lava and sent plumes of orange smoke into the sky.

Handout/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images

No injuries or deaths have been reported.

EPA/ORIETTA SCARDINO

Residents in the village of Pedara near the crater said it spewed not only ash, but also big chunks of volcanic stones throughout the area.

Davide Anastasi/LaPresse via AP

Mount Etna’s eruption is seen from the village of Catania, Italy.

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

Streams of red hot lava flow in the aftermath of Mount Etna’s eruption seen from Giarre, Italy.

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

“It was a rain of stones,” resident Letizia Olivieri told AP. “Something I never saw in my entire life.”

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

A view of the Mount Etna eruption from Paterno, Italy.

LUIGI SENNA via REUTERS

Volcanic ashes are seen as Mount Etna erupts at the village of Catania, Italy.

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

Workers clean a street in the aftermath of Mount Etna’s volcanic eruption in Catania, Italy.

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

A woman walks her dog in the aftermath of Mount Etna’s volcanic eruption in Catania, Italy.

REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

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With Post wires