A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli has erupted, unleashing a lava flow that has reached the sea.
The volcano, off the southern Italian coast near Sicily, erupted on Sunday local time.
The partial collapse of a crater terrace and lava flow triggered a three-minute seismic signal.
Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology video showed huge plumes of smoke as the lava ripped down the side of the volcano.
The institute said a first major explosion was recorded on September 29, before "a marked increase in volcanic activity culminated in a copious lava overflow" from the northern crater, which branched into multiple lava flows that stretched to the coast.
Italy's Department of Civil Protection has raised the alert from yellow to orange and said "a situation of enhanced volcano imbalance persists". The heightened alert increases monitoring.
The Stromboli volcano is one of the most active on the planet and has been erupting almost continuously for the past 90 years.
In 2019, a tourist died in a powerful eruption that covered the island in ash.
No casualties or damage were reported in this most recent eruption.
ABC/Reuters
