Mount Etna erupts for fourth time this year

The volcano located on the southern Italian island of Sicily began to erupt today, marking the fourth eruption this year, blasting out a huge ash cloud reaching 6,000 and 7,000 metres above sea level.

The eruption took place along an active crater on the south-eastern part of the volcano and the overspilling lava was moving through the area of Valle del Bove, a desert area, while the ash cloud was being blown toward the east.

In 2011 the massive 45-kilometre wide volcano erupted a total of 18 times.