Thousands of ‘danger tourists’ have travelled to the slopes of Mount Etna in Italy to witness explosive lava flows and breathtaking ash clouds after its latest eruption. Sicily’s iconic volcano, which is the tallest and most active in Europe,

A lot of people are trying to get closer to admire this natural phenomenon,” a local mayor warned his community. “But it is extremely dangerous!”

Restrictions require tourists to stay at least 500 meters away from the lava flow but images and videos show people routinely flouting the rules.

A week of spectacular lava sprays on Sicily’s snow-capped Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanos, has drawn thousands of people wanting to see the eruption. But the sudden influx of sightseers has become a safety risk, according to Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily’s regional Civil Protection agency.

The latest eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily has drawn crowds of photographers, hikers and nature aficionados, which have congested streets and clogged paths for rescue crews.

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, is once again commanding attention as its first eruption of 2025 surges into an extraordinary natural spectacle. Since February 8, the Italian giant has been spewing lava and ash from the Bocca Nuova crater,

Tourists climbing Sicily's Mount Etna volcano at night in sneakers and light clothing to get a close-up view of an ongoing eruption may be risking their lives, rescuers warned on Friday.