The intense explosions, known as ‘strombolian’ eruptions, are happening almost continuously, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology-Etnean Observatory warned this morning. The massive detonations can be felt more than 30 kilometres away. The intensity of the eruptions has been gradually rising since August.
They have now reached values comparable to those seen shortly before the December 2018 eruption and higher than those observed before the eruptions in July.
But experts say the new Etna eruptions do not pose immediate danger to the people at Catania Airport.
In July Mount Etna burst into life releasing huge plumes of volcano ash into the sky while Mount Stromboli caused lava flows and fires to break out.
The volcanic ash cloud from Mount Etna reached 4.5 km (15 000 feet) above sea level.
The Stromboli volcano also caused fires to break out in nearby Punta Lena.
Fires affected an area of around 100m and despite the continuous work of fire crews, it is still active.
The area is uninhabited and there is no danger for islanders and tourists.
Stromboli is continuously monitored by INGV and Italy’s Civil Protection agency.
Mount Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000 years.
In the summer a hiker near the volcano’s summit was killed after being struck by flying debris as the eruption began.
Reports of the intensifying eruptions come as scientists discover a cluster of underwater volcanoes in the Mediterranean and one is larger than Mount Vesuvius.
The new volcanic complex was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea, 15 kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coasts of Calabria.
There are three main mountains in the complex called Diamante, Enotrio and Ovidio.
The volcanoes were developed between 780,000 and 20,000 years ago and are no longer active today.
These volcanoes were eroded over glaciers over time.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega