Haunting images show gigantic Etna eruption as billowing volcano dwarfs city
Mount Etna's latest eruption paints a dramatic picture in Sicily, with towering ash clouds and fleeing residents. Discover the breathtaking moments in photos.
Europe's most active volcano has erupted in Italy, spurting out a giant cloud of ash over the city of Catania.
(Image: Getty)Pictures and footage of today’s Mount Etna eruption have been circulating online, showing Europe’s most active volcano exploding with a huge cloud of ash. Some video clips show terrified residents fleeing as a massive cloud expands behind them.
Mount Etna is the world's most active stratovolcano and erupted earlier today causing panic among some locals in Italy. The massive volcano is located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, between the cities of Messina and Catania.
The latest eruption prompted a "code red" aviation warning from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Toulouse.
View our gallery of the dramatic photos taken of the event, showing the giant smoke cloud towering above the city of Catania.
Mount Etna has been showing increased activity throughout 2025.
The average amplitude of volcanic tremor began to gradually increase from 22:00 UTC on June 1, peaking at high values around 00:50 UTC on June 2.
As reported by The Watchers, The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etna Observatory (INGV-OE), initially upgraded the Aviation Color Code from Green to Yellow at 01:23 UTC, then to Orange at 02:02 UTC, and finally to Red at 03:32 UTC.
Footage of the eruption was captured live and shared throughout social media online.
Some clips showed locals and tourists fleeing the scene as the ash cloud expanded.
(Image: Twitter/X/ACarreca)
The volcano is located between the cities of Messina and Catania, and is the highest mountain on a Mediterranean island and the most active stratovolcano in the world.
The people living in Catania were able to see the cloud forming above them.
(Image: Twitter/X/WeatherMonitors)