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Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupted Monday — sending panicked tourists running for safety as a cloud of smoke and ash rose several miles into the air. The huge plume of

smoke and ash filled the sky around Sicily after the famous landmark began to explode overnight, causing nearby homes to shake. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse quickly issued a 

“code red” Monday morning as volcanic ash began falling over the tourist haven. The agency had warned in its initial update that the volcano was experiencing “strong strombolian activity.”

Wild footage being shared widely on social media showed terrified visitors fleeing down along a path on the flank of the vast volcano when the lava first started to overflow. EXPLORE MORE

Another clip shared by a trekking guide showed the smoke thickening as it rose in the background. Ash plumes rose at least 4 miles, according to the advisory center. Italy’s INGV National

Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the fiery spectacle was caused when part of the southeast crater collapsed – sparking hot lava flows. It was the 14th eruptive phase for Europe’s

 most active volcano in recent months. The area of danger was confined to Etna’s summit, which was closed off to tourists as a precaution, according to the INGV. Sicily’s president, Renato

Schifani, called it “a phenomenon that we are following with extreme caution.” However, he stressed that the lava flows hadn’t passed the natural containment area – and so far it “posed no

danger to the population.” Still, tremors from the eruption were widely felt in the towns and villages on Mount Etna’s flanks, Italian media reported. The level of alert due to the volcanic

activity was raised at the Catania airport, but no immediate interruptions were reported. Officials said the ash cloud emission had ended by the afternoon. The volcano — which is nearly

11,000 feet high and has a surface area of some 460 square miles – is a popular tourist hotspot. _With Post wires_