Etna volcano eruptions send lava flows and ash clouds over Sicily

The Etna volcano on Sicily, Italy, erupted again in late June, with lava pouring down its slopes and generating the largest ash clouds over the island in years. A crack opened in the Voragine crater on 26 June, and the eruption continued on 29 June, producing incandescent lava streams and dense ash plumes visible from the surrounding area.

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology issued an orange aviation warning for aircraft flying over the region, but flights at Catania's Fontanarossa Airport were reported as unaffected. Scientists note that Etna is the most active volcano in continental Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making the ongoing activity significant for both research and tourism.