Mount Etna Erupts: Tourists Flee as Volcano Unleashes Spectacle

Mount Etna's Eruption Sends Tourists Scurrying, But No Danger Reported On Monday, Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna, erupted in a spectacular display of nature's power. A massive plume of ash, gas, and rock billowed from the volcano's south-east crater, sending tourists who were hiking nearby scrambling to safety. Footage from the scene shows people quickly leaving the area as the eruption unfolds. Despite the dramatic visuals, authorities from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that the eruption posed no immediate threat to the local population. The lava flows resulting from the eruption remained confined within a natural containment area. "Despite the intimidating spectacle, the activity wasn't considered dangerous," stated an INGV volcanologist. One eyewitness, a tourist named Aurelien Pouzin, described the scene: "It was incredible, like something out of a movie. Everyone was in a panic, everyone was descending." Mount Etna's eruptions are a regular occurrence, with documented activity dating back to 1500 BC. This latest eruption serves as another reminder of the volcano's enduring power and the importance of ongoing monitoring and preparedness by local authorities.