January 13, 2011

Italy: Erupting Etna Lights Up Sky And Closes Local Airport


Adnkronos International
written by Staff
Thursday January 13, 2011

Catania, 13 Jan. (AKI) - Sicily's Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, briefly erupted belching ash and sending lava down its slopes as vulcanologist kept an eye on the mountain for signs of further activity.

The two-hour eruption late Wednesday lit up the sky and temporarily closed the nearby airport in Catania in eastern Sicily. Fontanarossa airport reopened around 6:30 am on Thursday after delaying or diverting some domestic flights.

There were no reported casualties caused by the eruption.

Etna's last major eruption was in 1992.

The ancient Greeks believed 3,329-metre Etna to be the home of Vulcan, the god of fire. erupting merely meant Vulcan was forging weapons for Mars, the god of war.

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