Etna, the tallest and most active volcano in Europe, erupted spectacularly Thursday night, illuminating the night sky.

The eruption, centered on the southeastern crater of the volcano, at an altitude of about 2,900 meters, placed ash and smoke clouds at an altitude of 8,000 meters, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology announced.

There are still no reports of injuries or property damage,

Reuters

reports .

Recall that this 3330-foot-high volcano could erupt up to several times a year, spewing lava and ash over the Mediterranean island of Sicily.

Otherwise, the biggest eruption of this volcano happened in 1992.

/ Telegrafi /

Activity at # Etna's Southeast Crater has been increasing during the evening of 10 February 2022, and is now in a full paroxysmal phase, with lava fountains 500-600 m tall, lava flows to southwest and southeast, and an eruption column several kilometers high.

pic.twitter.com/0dFHPYZAC5

- Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) February 10, 2022

#Etna is not exactly famous for producing pyroclastic flows, though they are quite common during her violent paroxysmal episodes.

Here is a nice little one during the powerful paroxysm on the evening of 10 February 2022. pic.twitter.com/p1b5HxuKr0

- Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) February 10, 2022