Mount Etna, Europe’s most active stratovolcano, erupted spectacularly, sending a towering plume of ash and smoke into the sky and a vibrant lava fountain cascading down its slopes.

According to CBS News, the eruption, centered at the Southeast Crater, began in the early hours and escalated by midday, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

The INGV reported that the eruptive activity started around 1:50 AM UTC with Strombolian explosions, characterized by bursts of molten lava and gas.

By noon local time, the activity intensified into a dramatic lava fountain, with infrared imagery capturing molten lava flowing down the volcano’s flank.

A massive ash cloud, reaching heights of approximately 6.5 kilometers (4 miles), prompted aviation authorities to briefly raise the alert level to Code Red, later downgraded to Orange as the ash dispersion posed no immediate threat to air travel.

Local communities, accustomed to Etna’s frequent eruptions, faced minimal disruption, with no immediate reports of injuries or significant ashfall affecting nearby towns.

Tourists in the area, however, were seen evacuating as a precautionary measure due to the intensity of the eruption and the towering ash plume visible against the clear Sicilian sky.

Mount Etna, a stratovolcano known for its conical shape and layered lava deposits from millennia of eruptions, is the most active of its kind in the world.

This latest event follows a notable eruption just over a year ago, when Etna produced rare vortex bubbles—ring-like clouds emitted from its crater.

The INGV continues to monitor the volcano closely, noting that the current activity, while dramatic, aligns with Etna’s typical behavior.

No significant risks to the local population or infrastructure have been reported, and authorities remain vigilant as the volcano continues its fiery display.