ROME (AP) \u2014 Mount Etna, Europe\u2019s most active volcano, was erupting on Sunday, spewing ash on Catania, eastern Sicily\u2019s largest city, and forcing a suspension of flights at that city\u2019s airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Italy\u2019s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, or INGV, which closely monitors Etna with instrumentation on the slopes, noted that cloud cover on a rainy day was impeding views of the eruption, which often serves up a spectacular display of flaming lava during the volcano\u2019s not infrequent eruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The institute said that ash had fallen on Catania and at least one town on Mount Etna\u2019s inhabited slopes. No injures were reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Catania airport said due to ashfall, flight operations were temporarily suspended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INGV indicated that monitoring had recorded evidence of a stepping up in tremor activity in recent days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People in the towns of Adrano and Biancavilla reported hearing loud booms emanating from the volcano on Sunday, the Italian news agency ANSA said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Italy\u2019s national Civil Protection agency had noted on Thursday in an alert that in view of increased volcanic activity, \u201csudden\u201d variations of Etna\u2019s activity could occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In early 2021, an eruption of the volcano lasted several weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n