Etna spews lava and ash

Mount Etna, Europe’s biggest and most active volcano, came to life again today, with a river of lava coming out of its mouth and a series of small quakes damaging buildings on its slopes, officials said.

The stream of lava destroyed some ski lift pylons as it headed toward Piano Provenzana, an area which sits at an altitude of 2,300 metres (7,500 feet) and is used by tourists as a starting point for mountain walks.

Nobody was injured, as the area has been evacuated and sealed off by police, civil defence officials in Catania said.

The lava, which was growing heavier by the hour, was still a long way from settlements on the slopes of Etna.

As the stream of lava advanced, the volcano mouth was spewing a fountain of ash and sand, so thick it could be seen from villages several kilometres (miles) away, the ANSA news agency reported. The cloud of black ash made circulation on the streets difficult.

After months of silence, Etna’s activity resumed overnight, when as many as 200 small quakes rattled eastern Sicily, some creating panic and sending people to the streets.

The strongest quake had a 4.2 magnitude, said the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology. The quakes caused minor damage to two hotels near Piano Provenzana, officials said. The hotel were evacuated.

Etna, which towers 3,310 metres (10,860 feet) above Sicily, comes to life every few months. The last major eruption was in 1992.