Photo taken on Dec. 24, 2018 shows the Mount Etna volcano during the eruption in Catania, Sicily, Italy. Sicily's Mount Etna volcano erupted on Monday, the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) said in a statement. Eruptions are fairly frequent occurrences at Mount Etna, with the last large eruption taking place in 2009, according to the INGV. (Xinhua/Davide Anastasi)

Sicily's Mount Etna volcano erupted on Monday, the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) said in a statement.

The eruption that began at noon was preceded by 130 earthquake tremors, the two strongest of which measured 4.0 and 3.9 on the Richter scale, the INGV said.

Air traffic at the airport in the nearby city of Catania was suspended as a result, SKY TG24 private broadcaster reported.

"Earthquake felt by the population, no injured or damages so far," the Civil Protection Agency tweeted around 1 pm.

Local media including RAI public broadcaster and La Repubblica newspaper posted photos of a massive cloud of ash spewing from Mt Etna, which is one of the world's most active volcanoes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Eruptions are fairly frequent occurrences at Mount Etna, with the last large eruption taking place in 2009, according to the INGV.</s>Image copyright Reuters Image caption Lava and smoke could be seen on Etna on Monday

Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna in Sicily, erupted on Monday, with officials reporting more than 130 earthquakes of up to 4.3 in magnitude.

The Mount Etna observatory said lava had spewed from a new fracture near its south-eastern crater.

A local volcanologist said it was Etna's "first flank eruption" in more than a decade.

Volcanic ash covered nearby villages, while planes into Catania airport had to be halted temporarily.

A large explosion was felt close to Etna during the morning.

A video filmed 2,500m (8,200 ft) up the 3,350m volcano showed the fast spread of ash. People on the mountainside were told to escape quickly.

Catania airport said later that the airspace had been reopened to allow four planes to land per hour, before confirming it would return to normal operation by 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

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Italy's INGV volcanology institute said that during a three-hour period from 08:50 (07:50 GMT) on Monday more than 130 earthquakes took place.

The biggest tremor of magnitude 4 was on the north-east side of Etna near Piano Pernicana, while another of similar magnitude was felt on the northern flank.

That was followed by intense eruptions from the volcano's new south-east crater.

Image copyright Pete and Jackie Jackson Image caption Smoke billowed out throughout the day

Later on Monday, a magnitude-4.3 tremor was also recorded by officials - the strongest felt throughout the day.

Although Etna has seen frequent eruptions, the INGV said in August that the volcano had grown faster than ever before in recent years.

In March a UK-led team said that the whole structure of Europe's premier volcano was edging towards the sea at a rate of 14mm per year.</s>Mount Etna — Europe’s highest and most active volcano — erupted on Monday, causing a magnitude 3.3 earthquake and the closure of Sicily’s Catania Airport.

“Due to the eruption of #Etna from today 2pm (December 24th) #Catania airspace is closed,” the airport tweeted.

The airport said that while it would be closed, some airspace would be reopened to allow four flights an hour to arrive.

It advised passengers to contact their airline before heading to the airport and confirmed that a “crisis unit” was expected to meet.

Etna’s eruptions are relatively frequent and, according to Italy’s National institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, there has been a gradual increase in activity on the volcano over the last month.</s>Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending a huge column of ash into the sky and causing the closure of Catania airport on Sicily’s eastern coast.

Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending a huge column of ash into the sky and causing the closure of Catania airport on Sicily’s eastern coast.

A chain of around 130 earth tremors have rocked the volcano since around 0800 GMT on Monday, Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology said, with the strongest posting a magnitude of 4.0.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The 3,330 meter high volcano can burst into spectacular action several times a year, spewing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The last major eruption was in 1992.</s>Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending a huge column of ash into the sky and causing the closure of Catania airport on Sicily's eastern coast.There were no reports of any injuries.The 3,330 meter high volcano can burst into spectacular action several times a year, spewing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The last major eruption was in 1992.</s>CATANIA, Italy (Reuters) - Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending a huge column of ash into the sky and causing the closure of Catania airport on Sicily’s eastern coast.

A chain of around 130 earth tremors have rocked the volcano since around 0800 GMT on Monday, Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology said, with the strongest posting a magnitude of 4.0.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The 3,330 meter high volcano can burst into spectacular action several times a year, spewing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The last major eruption was in 1992.</s>At least one airport in Italy has been closed after Mount Etna sent black clouds of smoke and ash into the air following an eruption this past weekend, with the latest plumes spewing forth on Monday.

The latest eruption is a result of a new fracture on the based of the southeastern crater of Etna, according to Italy’s official Ansa news agency.

On Saturday night, lava could be seen erupting into the air before flowing down the mountain, with seismic activity continuing well into Monday.

By midday on Dec. 24, about 130 tremors had been recorded, with a magnitude-4.0 even being detected, the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology said.

Catania airport on Sicily’s eastern coast has closed as a result of the eruption, as ash can impact plane engines and even lead to them stalling or failing in some cases, the BBC reports.

While the eruption is not a threat to most communities, the Associated Press reports hikers are being brought down from higher elevations for their safety.

This weekend’s eruption is one of many which have occurred this year, the most recent taking place in November.

As of 11 a.m. ET, no injuries had been reported due to the eruption.

READ MORE: Hawaii’s volcano eruption hit tourism hard. Some say a lava-viewing site could help revive it

Etna, which stands at 3,330 metres, can experience several eruptions in a year, but the last major eruption hasn’t occurred since 1992.

— With files from Reuters and the Associated Press</s>Mount Etna spewed a large plume of volcanic ash over Sicily on December 24. Local reports said the activity prompted the closure of Catania–Fontanarossa Airport on Monday. This footage shows the volcano from the Riposto area of the island. Credit: battagliero84 via Storyful

Lava and ash are spewing from a new fracture on Italy’s Mount Etna amid an unusually high level of seismic activity at the Sicilian volcano, according to observatory officials.

A swarm of 130 tremors had been recorded by midday on Monday, the most powerful registering a magnitude of 4.0, the Mount Etna Observatory said.

It reported lava flows from the volcano and said a new fracture had opened near its southeast crater.

The owner of a refuge on the volcano said hikers were being brought down from higher elevations to 1900 metres for their safety.

But there are no reports of injuries, and so far the spewing ash is not causing disruptions to residents of nearby towns and cities.

Etna, the largest of Italy’s three active volcanoes, has been particularly active since July.</s>Mount Etna in Sicily was spitting out lava and columns of ash on Christmas Eve after the volcano initially reawoke in late July. Shocking posted by residents show billowing black and grey smoke spewing over the blue skies after Europe's higest volcano blew her top. Residents reported feeling "many little earthquakes" across the region, including Catania,before the explosion. A Twitter user posted: "Ms Etna is performing a Christmas show. Many little earthquakes in the last few hours."

Another said: "Mount Etna erupting right now. mini earthquakes being felt across Catania. witnessing the wonder of nature. humbled as we were hiking this active volcano just yesterday. #catania #etna #volcano". One posted: "#MerryChristmas from Mount Etna who decided to wake up this morning for the festivities... " A Twitter user added: "Scary sight: Mount #Etna woke up rather angry this morning. #stratovolcano #Italy #Sicily" READ MORE: Which Ring of Fire volcanoes will BLOW in 2019?

Mount Etna, at 3,330 metres (10,926 feet), is the highest volcano in mainland Europe and is considered to be one of the most active in the world. It produces around seven million tonnes of CO2, water and sulphur dioxide every year and in 2011 spewed nearly 70 million tonnes of lava. The eruption may appear to be small but there have been dangerous blasts in recent years as ten people were injured including a BBC camera crew in March 2017 when spewing lava exploded on impact with snow.

Etna is in an almost constant state of activity but has remained slightly dormant over the past two years. The volcano lies above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The 700,000-year-old volcano is a huge 24 miles wide and 10,926 feet high. Etna produces around 7 million tonnes of steam, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide every year. In 2013, Etna was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.</s>Italy's Catania airport is reopening after an ash cloud from Mount Etna's latest eruptions forced it to shut down.

The airport on the Mediterranean island of Sicily says it's having a limited opening Tuesday, operating four flights an hour.

More than 100 tremors have rattled the inhabited slopes of Mount Etna this week, with the most powerful quake registering a magnitude of 4.3. The volcano's seismological observatory says a new fissure had opened near its southeast crater.

Etna is one of three active volcanoes in Italy and has been particularly active since July.

On Monday, hikers on Etna were brought down from the higher elevations for their safety. No evacuations were reported.
Mount Etna erupts, causing the closure of Catania–Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily, Italy.