Italy's Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted in Sicily on Monday night after eight months of slumber. The volcano spewed a stunning show of light and lava, but it did not threaten the local community or force evacuations. The National Institute of Volcanology reported that the ash fallout from the eruption was modest, and the local airport did not experience major delays.
The fiery, nighttime eruption was caught on video and captivated an international audience. The volcano has had widely publicized eruptions in the past, including a 2001 explosion that was used in part as a backdrop in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In 2013, Mount Etna made international headlines for another explosive performance, but it did not severely damage local communities.
