A huge plume of ash, gas and rock has spewed forth from Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, but authorities said there was no current danger to the population. Surveillance cameras showed “a pyroclastic flow probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the south-east crater”, the agency said. A pyroclastic flow occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gases surge from volcanoes. View image in fullscreen Officials are keeping a close watch on the volcano but say there is no danger to people at present. A red alert issued for aviation authorities said the height of the volcanic cloud was estimated at 6.5 kilometres (more than four miles).
