Terrifying moment tourists flee Mt Etna eruption in Italy [2:18]

Terrifying moment tourists flee Mt Etna eruption in Italy

One of Europe’s largest volcanoes has erupted sending hot ash as high as five kilometres into the air.

Mt Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily close to the city of Catania, erupted on Monday.

Video shows people who were on the volcano running for safety. One tour firm told US broadcaster CNN that they had as many as 40 people on the volcano when it erupted. The Sicilian Civil Protection Agency said about a dozen tour operators work at the volcano at any given time.

No injuries have been reported.

Uploaded to YouTube by news.com.au.

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