Mount Etna erupts in Italy, sending ash and lava into the sky

Catania, Sicily — Mount Etna, the largest of Italy's three active volcanoes, is spewing ash and lava once again, but officials say the activity is taking place at its summit and does not pose a risk to people and towns. Etna began a new phase of eruptions on Thursday as two new cracks in the volcano opened up, sending lava down its flank.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) noted that prior activity took place before the eruption, with a series of seismic events occurring in the weeks leading up to two fissures opening on Mount Etna's New Southeast Crater.

Eugenio Privitera, Catania's INGV director, says this eruption is taking place at Etna's summit and does not pose risks to residents. But he says visitors to Etna must stay away from the summit for their own safety.

Northern lava flow reached a distance of more than 1 mile while southern lava flow reached nearly double that distance, reports INGV.

The volcano previously erupted in December. That eruption was linked to an earthquake which caused injuries and extensive damage to buildings on and near the volcano's slopes.