Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, erupted, sending a huge column of ash into the sky and causing the closure of Catania airport in Sicily.A chain of around 130 earth tremors have rocked the volcano since around 9am on Monday, Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology.
There were no reports of any injuries.A flight from London Southend via Catania had been rerouted directly to Malta. The airline is still evaluating a scheduled flight on Monday evening from Malta to Catania.
The 3,330 metre high volcano can burst into spectacular action several times a year, spewing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean.