Italy's Mount Etna roars into action, causing plumes of smoke to rise

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A massive plume of ash and steam rose into the sky over Sicily on Monday as Italy's Mount Etna roared back into action again.

Large plumes of smoke some 10-kilometres high rose from a southeast crater of Europe's tallest and most active volcano, spewing ash and large clouds of smoke into the sky over the surrounding villages.

The volcano's activity and the consequent ash precipitation caused the shutting down of the nearby Catania airport.

The 3,330-metre-high volcano can cause spectacular views several times a year, but rarely causes damage, while the eruptions themselves do not put the local population at risk.