Mount Etna sends lava and ash hundreds of feet into the air as the volcano erupts for the thirteenth time this year Experts said violent eruption was 'spectacular' but not a risk to residents The huge burst on Saturday could be seen for miles by surrounding towns Town mayors called on the Government to introduce state of emergency Mount Etna burst into life once more at the weekend as it shot lava, ash and smoke hundreds of feet into the air. Residents had been warned about the imminent eruption as grey smoke has been seen rising from the volcano for days. On Saturday, red hot lava was spat into the air as the volcano violently erupted once more. Smoke and ash were sent up to 3,000ft in the air as Mount Etna erupted for the thirteenth time Experts said the eruption was 'very spectacular' but said local towns and residents were not at risk It is the thirteenth time Etna has erupted this year. Such is the scale of the activity that concerned residents have called on the Government to introduce a state of emergency. Experts said the latest activity posed no risk to local residents or towns. Stefano Gresta, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, said it was 'very spectacular, but not risky', according to youreporternews.it. The airport was only briefly closed and the eruption caused very little disruption. The huge burst on Saturday could be seen by miles around and witnessed by residents of Catania and Taormina. Ash was sent flying down Etna's slopes and smoke rose more than 3,000ft into the air. Locals said the latest eruption is the most 'intense' of the year so far. Ash was sent down the slopes of erupting Etna, which dwarfs towns that sit at the foot of the volcano Huge plumes of smoke had been seen rising from the volcano for days before the eruption The eruptions ended shortly before midnight on Saturday, although further bursts of activity were recorded yesterday. A series of minor earthquakes, measuring up to 2.55 on the Richter scale were also recorded. Earlier this month, mayors of towns surrounding the volcano called for 'urgent' government action. In a joint statement, the politicians said they wanted a state of emergency to be declared. Mount Etna is Europe's tallest active volcano. After past explosions, authorities in Sicily have been forced to build dams or dig ditches to divert lava away from people's homes. In 2008, an eruption continued for 417 days and was accompanied by more than 200 earthquakes.