Mount Etna roars into action with ash and lava

Mount Etna in Sicily has roared back into spectacular action, sending up plumes of ash and spewing lava.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) said the volcano, which initially “re-awoke” in late July, sprang into fuller action by shooting up chunks of flaming lava as high as 500ft almost constantly.

On Friday, INGV said the action was continuing, feeding ash plumes several hundred yards into the air above the crater.

Mount Etna spews lava Credit: Boris Behncke/INGV/AP

No evacuations of towns on Etna’s slopes were reported.

Sicilians farm on the fertile soils of the slopes of Etna.

The volcano is also a popular destination for hikers on the Mediterranean island.