Catania, Italy
Europe’s biggest active volcano spewed lava 600 feet into the air this week in its first major eruption of the year. Molten rock crawled slowly down the 11,000-foot mountain, incinerating several ski lifts, a ski school, and a hotel. A forest on the northern slope burst into flame before the lava arrived, simply from the intense heat. Residents of Sicily’s second-largest city, Catania, which lies at the base of Etna, carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the black rain of soot and ash. They’re used to it: Etna rumbles almost constantly and usually erupts every few years.
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