Photo captures Mount Etna eruption creating rare volcanic storm, sending dramatic lightning streaks across the sky

An especially powerful eruption of Mount Etna has created a volcanic storm that sent lightning spectacularly into the sky over eastern Sicily.

An expert on volcanoes at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said Friday that these volcanic storms are rare, but can occur in especially violent eruptions or with volcanoes near the sea.

Volcanologist Boris Behnke told The Associated Press that volcanic lightning was once observed over Mount Etna in 2021, and earlier in 2015.

The eruption shortly before midnight on Thursday caused no damage. But it shot ash more than 6 miles into the air above sea level.

Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe and its eruptions are not uncommon. It is the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy.

Mount Etna erupted last June, releasing ash and orange lava into the air. The eruption lasted a few hours and caused rain to fall on nearby towns. Mount Etna also erupted in October, sending a massive plume of ash rising above the volcano.

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• volcano
• Italy
• eruption
• Mount Etna