Watch: Italy's Mount Etna erupts violently, sending massive ash plumes into sky as people run for safety

Italy's Mount Etna, which is believed to have the longest documented history of eruptions, violently erupted on Monday. Photos and videos showed plumes of toxic ash billowing into the sky as people ran for safety down the mountain.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said that activity at the mountain began during the early hours of Monday and culminated in “intense and almost continuous” strombolian explosions hours later. According to INGV officials, the volcanic eruption did not cross the Valley of the Leo as reported by Fox Weather.



Strombolian activity is referred to as a low-level volcanic eruption that releases a modest amount of volcanic energy.

The volcanic eruption and the pyroclastic were probably caused due to a collapse of material from the Northern side of the southeast crater. The explosion has since transitioned into lava fountains, and ashfall was also reported in some areas, such as Piano Vetore.

Mount Etna is an extremely active volcano and sits on top of the converging plate margins where the African and Eurasian plates meet. It is also Europe’s tallest active volcano, standing at a height of 11,000 feet.