Scientists in awe of Mt Etna s spectacular eruptions: What you need to know about Europe s most active volcano Updated Feb 24, 2021 | 16:38 IST
Etna has been only been studied since the turn of the 19th century but scientists figure it has been active since the end of the Neogene Period (2.6 million years ago). Mount Etna, Europe s most active volcano, spews ash and lava, as seen from Catania, southern Italy on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. | Photo Credit: AP
Key Highlights
Etna, which in Greek Aitne translates to I burn, is an active volcano that lies on the east coast of Sicily. As the highest active volcano in Europe, its topmost elevation is pegged at roughly 10,900 feet (3,320 metres)
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Lava flows from the Mt Etna volcano, near Catania in Sicily, southern Italy.
Mount Etna, Europeâs most active volcano, has awed even seasoned volcanologists in recent days with spectacular spurts of lava lighting up the Sicilian sky each night. The latest eruption overnight petered out by around 0900 GMT Tuesday, according to Italyâs National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology.
For over a week, Etna has been belching lava, ash, and volcanic rocks on a regular basis. The nearby Catania Airport closed temporarily, and residents of the town of Pedara said it appeared one-day last week as if it were raining rocks as a thick blanket of ash covered the town.