Mount Etna Explodes

April 17, 2000 -- Sicily's Mount Etna Volcano exploded on Sunday, spewing ash and lava into the Mediterranean sky from craters on its southeastern slopes.

The powerful eruptions of Europe's highest and most active volcano could be seen from the nearby cities of Syracuse, Taormina, and Catania. Communities close to the volcano were not threatened as lava from the mountain flowed into an uninhabited valley.

The volcano had been quiet after a spectacular eruption 13 days earlier.

Etna's last major eruption occurred in December 1991, when lava flows reached the city of Zafferana at the base of the mountain.