A volcanic eruption in Italy left people scurrying for cover from what officials are saying is a pyroclastic flow.
Several videos circulating online show people running as smoke from the side of Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano volcano in Sicily, filled the air on June 2.
Footage and photos were also shared by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Italy. The government agency wrote in a translated post that a pyroclastic flow, a combination of ash, rock, and gas, “probably produced by the collapse of material from the northern side of the Southeast Crater.”
The INGV added that the “explosive activity” has “moved to “a lava mountain.” According to GB News, an international news outlet, a spokesperson for the institute explained that “the values of the tremor amplitude are currently high with a tendency to increase further.”
Previous Mount Etna eruption: Skiers glide by flowing lava
Where is Mount Etna located?
Europe’s largest and most active volcano, Mount Etna, is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions, and volcanic activity in the region can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions, USGS says.
Earlier this year, skiers were captured going down the slopes while lava flowed in the background.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
(This story was updated to include video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mount Etna eruption prompts tourists to seek safety: See photos
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