Europe’s highest and most active volcano has erupted again, right on Malta’s doorstep.
An 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit Sicily around Mount Etna, injuring at least two people.
Some buildings were reportedly damaged in what was the latest in dozens of tremors since Etna erupted on Monday.
Volcanic ash had earlier covered nearby villages, and flights to and from Catania Airport had to be diverted to Malta temporarily.
Tourists on the mountainside were told to escape quickly.
The earthquake struck at 3:19am on Wednesday near Viagrande.
Pictures of damaged buildings have been posted on social media.
Violenta scossa di terremoto a Catania. Crolli e feriti: Il sisma di magnitudo 4.8 è stato registrato alle 3.19 L'articolo Violenta scossa di terremoto a Catania. Crolli e feriti proviene da Giornalettismo. https://t.co/S5dKz3bPkL pic.twitter.com/Hu3Q4jvYlW
— Notizie confermate (@notiveri) December 26, 2018
At least 130 tremors rattled villages on the slopes of the volcanic mountain earlier this week.
The volcano’s seismological observatory says a new fissure has opened on a stretch of uninhabited slope near Mount Etna’s south east crater.
On Monday, hikers on Etna were brought down from the higher elevations for their safety.
Il terremoto a Catania: Etna: notte di paura per un sisma di magnitudo 4.8: si registrano crolli a Fleri, Santa Venerina e Zafferana Etnea. L'epicentro intorno ai comuni di Viangrande e Trecastagni L'articolo Il terremoto a Catania proviene da… https://t.co/XvoM9Go9qa pic.twitter.com/nIkaql2A7f
— Notizie confermate (@notiveri) December 26, 2018
