Rome — Sicily's Mount Etna erupted briefly on Thursday evening, with three streams of lava flowing for several hundred metres.

A column of smoke of about 8,000 metres rose into the sky, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

The eruption was said to have stopped again by Friday morning, although the volcano was still emitting a cloud of ash from the crater.

Catania Airport, which is located at the foot of Mount Etna, remained in operation.

Mount Etna erupted several times last year, with clouds of ash causing minor damage in villages and towns nearby. The eruptions also disrupted air traffic at Catania Airport several times.

©2022 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.