Mount Etna erupted on 2 June 2025, sending plumes of ash, gas and rock into the air, and a European Space Agency satellite captured the whole thing from space.
Located on the island of Sicily, Italy, Europe's tallest and most active volcano fired a huge ash plume up to five kilometres into the sky during the eruption.
More Earth from space
What's more, the eruption occurred around 11:00 local time and coincided with Italy's national holiday, Festa della Repubblica, which had drawn tourists to the area.
There hadn't been an eruption from Etna of this magnitude since 2014, according to the national Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology Observatory.
The image below of Mount Etna from space shows the lava flow and huge plume of smoke and ash.
It was captured at 11:40 local time by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite.
On the left, a natural colour image shows the ash plume in the summit crater area, somewhat obscured by cloud.
The image on the right is a false colour composite captured in infrared showing the heat signature of active lava flowing into the Valle del Bove.
Effects of the eruption
Local news reports said the eruption of Mount Etna on 2 June 2025 sent tourists fleeing.
Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported, and the eruption did not affect regions beyond the Valle del Leone, meaning there was no direct threat to nearby communities.
Air travel disruption was also described as 'minimal' and tours of Etna's slopes had resumed just days later, officials said.
Despite the drama of the Mount Etna eruption and the spectacular images captured from space, events like these are not uncommon.
Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes, and eruptions do happen, but rarely cause much risk to local communities.
A major local tourist attraction, Mount Etna offers activities like guided hikes, jeep tours and even wine tours.
4 facts about Mount Etna
Mount Etna is the most active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. It has frequent eruptions, some of which are explosive and some of which generate slow-flowing lava.
It's ancient
Etna's history of eruptions can be traced back 500,000 years and at least 2,700 years of activity has been documented, says UNESCO.
It’s huge
Mount Etna is about 3,329 metres (10,922 feet) tall, but its height changes with each eruption. It's certainly one of the largest and tallest volcanoes in Europe and covers an area of about 1,250 square kilometres.
It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 2013, Mount Etna was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional level of volcanic activity and scientific importance, cultural and historical significance.
