Italy's Mount Etna erupted spectacularly on Sunday night into Monday (9 August), causing a loud roar heard for miles around.

It has been nine days since its last eruption.

The Southeast Crater began its strombolian activity (relatively mild explosions) at around 1:30am local time. Loud roars were heard as far as the city of Catania, waking people up in the middle of the night.

A lava fountain reached about 700 meters from the edge of the crater and ceased only at around 5am. A massive release of ash continued from the crater.

The eruptive column was carried by the wind to the southeast, and the heavy rain of ash fell on the town of Zafferana Etnea and other villages in the surrounding area, creating serious problems for road traffic and the intervention of cleaning teams with special blowers.

This is the 51st eruptive episode in 2021.

New eruption at Etna volcano took place during the night on the 9th of August, after nine days from the last event. The Southeast Crater began its strombolian activity around 1:30 at night, loud roars were heard up to the city of Catania waking people up in the middle of the night, a lava fountain generated reached about 700 meters from the edge of the crater and ceased only around 5.00 in the morning and a massive release of ash continued from the crater. The eruptive column was carried by the wind to the southeast, and the heavy rain of ash fell on the town of Zafferana Etnea and other villages in the surrounding area, creating serious problems for road traffic and the intervention of the cleaning teams with special blowers. This is the fifty-first eruptive episode in 2021.