Flights grounded: Ash descends as Mt. Etna erupts

Italy’s infamous Mt. Etna erupted on Sunday, coating nearby streets with ash and halting air traffic in the vicinity.

Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted Sunday as rain continued to fall in flood-hit Italy. While no injuries are reported, copious amounts of ash have fallen in Catania.

Local news reports loud explosive sounds coming from the volcano, though the weather largely obscured views of any activity.

Catania Airport grounded all flights due to ash on the runway. Normal operation resumed from 09:00 am local time this morning with delays.

Standing at over 3,300 metres tall, Etna regularly erupts throughout the year, although its last major eruption occurred over a century ago in 1922.

It is constantly monitored, and an eruption was expected this weekend after a rise in tremors beneath the volcano was recorded over the past week.

The eruption comes as northern Italy continues to battle devastating floods, leaving more than 36,000 people to flee their homes.

At least 14 casualties are known, with the Emilia Romagna region worst-hit after seeing half of their average annual rainfall arrive in just 36 hours.

More rainfall is expected from midweek, with the mayor of Bologna saying that it will take years for the damages to be fully repaired.