The activity peaked by about 3am and waned about 40 minutes later.
Boris Behncke, a volcanologist who lives on the island, dubbed last night s episode the greatest show on Earth .
The expert, who only lives about 12.4 miles (20km) from Etna, shared online breathtaking images of the volcano s lava plumes painting the skies with an eerie red glow.
He tweeted: #Etna produced her 13th paroxysm at the Southeast Crater during the night of March 14 to 15, 2021.
Mount Etna spews smoke and ash over Italy as it erupts Luckily, weather clouds opened during the climax of the activity, and it was once more The Greatest Show On Earth. Photos taken from home in Tremestieri Etneo.
Mount Etna eruption: Molten lava flowed from the crater towards an uninhabited area (Image: INGV)
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The advisory read: Strombolian activity still observed; low ash emission in the vicinity of volcano.
Volcanic ash is particularly harmful to planes as particles sucked into an engine can melt and damage internal components.
But the ash also affected nearby towns and villages with videos and pictures shared on social media showing streets, buildings and cars covered in black soot.
Locals were seen sweeping the streets with brooms and leaf blowers.
At least eight villages were pelted with small rocks ejected from the volcano.
The Sicilian volcano has been steadily erupting since last week, belching smoke, ash, and fountains of red-hot lava. Mount Etna first reared its ugly head on February 16, after which it has been going through extremely powerful paroxysms - outbursts of lava fountains - with the latest activity roughly every 48 hours.