Mount Etna erupted again on Sunday, sending a cloud of volcanic ash over the Italian island of Sicily and prompting flight restrictions at Catania Airport.
Airport authorities said airspace in the area would remain heavily restricted until 7 p.m. local time, affecting both arrivals and departures.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said ash emissions began early Sunday from a summit vent before intensifying later in the morning. The eruption produced an ash column that rose about 1.5 kilometres above the crater.
Officials said the ash cloud was expected to continue drifting southward.
Located on Sicily’s eastern coast, Mount Etna stands about 3,300 metres high and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions involving lava flows, ash emissions and summit explosions.