Plumes of black smoke erupt from Mount Etna Smoke has begun to spew from Mount Etna, as the Italian volcano erupted for the fourth time in 2012. A massive steam plume, estimated as seven kilometres high, could be seen rising from the volcano. Etna, which is located above the Sicilian town of Catania, often erupts but rarely causes damage. Nearby airports remained open and continued operations during the eruption.