China News Service, February 22. According to Euronet, citing EUN News Agency, after months of relative calm, Italy's Mount Etna erupted again on the 21st, sending thick smoke and ash, forcing Catani, Sicily. The airport is temporarily closed.

  According to reports, on the 21st local time, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said that Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, and its lava flow is centered on the crater on the southeastern slope of the volcano.

The eruption created a 12-kilometer-high ash cloud in eastern Sicily.

  The Italian Civil Protection Agency said the ash covered roads, balconies and roofs in nearby towns.

There have been no reports of casualties or property damage.

These towns are popular with hikers, skiers and other tourists.

  The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said that by the afternoon of the 21st, the lava flow in the crater had stopped.

But earlier in the day, the institute issued a warning for planes and airports in the area when the volcanic cloud gushed out of Etna.

  Subsequently, Catania Fontanarossa Airport was temporarily closed until further notice, and inbound flights were diverted to Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport in Sicily.

Catania airport said in a statement that air restrictions are in place until the Etna state of emergency ends.

  Mount Etna has had dozens of known eruptions throughout its history.

In 1669, in what is believed to be the volcano's worst eruption, lava buried the panhandle of Catania, the largest city in eastern Sicily, destroying dozens of villages; Walls, used to contain the months-long lava flowing from Mount Etna so that it does not flow into the villages on the hillside.

  It is reported that Mount Etna is located at the intersection of the African and Eurasian plates. It is 3,324 meters high and is the highest active volcano in Europe.

Frequent eruptions over the past 500,000 years.

(Huang Xin)