Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, located on the east of the island of Sicily, underwent a series of large eruptions overnight on Saturday 16-Sunday 17 November 2013, throwing lava and iridescent rocks up to 600 m into the air, and producing a column of ash considerably larger. Despite this it caused no disruption to the island, which is used to such activity, with settlements on the flanks of the volcano considered to be in no danger and no disruption to flights to or from nearby Catania Airport.
Iridescent lava and an ash column over Mount Etna on Saturday 16 NOvember 2013. AP.
Southeastern Italy lies on the edge of the Eurasian Plate, close to its margin with Africa. The African Plate is being subducted beneath Italy on along a margin that cuts through the island of Sicily. The African plate is being subducted beneath Italy, and as it sinks is melted by the friction and heat of the Earth's interior. Some of the melted material then rises through the overlying plate fuelling the volcanoes of southern Italy.
The location of Mount Etna on eastern Sicily. Google Maps.
See also Eruption on Mount Etna, Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake off the Adriatic Coast of Italy, Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake on eastern Sicily, Magnitude 3.9 Earthquake in Tuscany and Earthquake in northern Italy.
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