Mt. Etna erupts

last updated 8 January 2015

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.