Europe's most active volcano erupts in Sicily

Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, has erupted again on the island of Sicily.

Huge lava fountains and plumes of ash were seen being sent high into the night sky over the weekend.

Mount Etna's eruptions happen quite frequent, and they are not usually disruptive or a threat to local people.

However, scientists have said that it has seen more volcanic activity recently, with frequent and powerful explosions.

Etna is the most active volcano in Europe, located on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, off the coast of Italy.

It's considered one of the world's most active volcanoes, with eruptions taking place several times a year - and sometimes even within a month.

This latest eruption occurred over the weekend and saw lava fountains, as well as huge plumes of ash and smoke, rising from the volcano into the air.

Scientists at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, which monitors volcanoes in Italy, said volcanic activity at the site had become more intense, with craters continuously emitting ash.

In response, experts issued a red Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, its highest level, although authorities said flights would continue to operate normally at nearby airports unless ashfall increased.

1. Mount Etna can be found on the eastern cost of Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island. The volcano is so big it can be seen from just about every part of Sicily.

2. According to Unesco, who recognised the volcano as a World Heritage Site in 2013, the eruptive history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years.

3. Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe. It stands at around 3,400 metres tall and has a base that measures just under 100 miles.

4. The largest recorded historical eruption of Mount Etna occurred in 1669. The volcano started rumbling on 11 March, which was followed by a number of big eruptions over the following weeks - which took place for around four months.

5. Mount Etna is an example of a composite volcano, the most common type of volcano. They can have violent eruptions and can grow bigger as layers of thick lava and ash harden on top of each other.