Tours are returning to the slopes of Mount Etna after its largest eruption in four years sent tourists fleeing from a vast column of gas and ash on Monday. After footage of the dramatic eruption circulated online - showing tourists sprinting down the volcano as black ash spewed several kilometres into the sky - Italian geological authorities were quick to quell fears that tourists and residents were under any danger.

Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupted on Monday morning, causing a chaotic scene at the popular Italian tourist attraction. According to CNN, Italian authorities said the explosion caused plumes of gases, ash and rock to shoot "several kilometers high” into the air. ...

A massive eruption at Mt. Etna forced tourists to flee the volcano on Monday after a plume of high temperature gases, ash and rock “several kilometers high” billowed into the air above them, Italian authorities said.