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

A particularly powerful explosion Mount Etna has created a volcanic storm that sent lightning strikes dramatically into the sky over eastern Sicily.

A volcanic expert from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology of Italy said on Friday that such volcanic storms are rare, but can occur in particularly violent eruptions or with volcanoes near the sea.

Volcanologist Boris Benke told the Associated Press that a volcanic thunderstorm was once observed over Mount Etna in 2021 and before that, in 2015.

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

Mount 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 exploded last June, releasing ash and orange lava into the air. The blast lasted for several hours and caused a torrential downpour in nearby cities. Mount Etna also erupted in October, sending a huge cloud of ash rising above the volcano.

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• volcano
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