Mt Etna volcanic ash and stones cover Sicilian tourist village

'Something I never saw in my entire life': The tourist town of Catania with the volcanic Mt Etna behind. Photo / Davide Anastasi, AP

Residents and municipal teams worked Wednesday to clean up a Sicilian village near Mount Etna after Europe's most active volcano spewed lava, ashes and volcanic stones.

The eruption, which featured spectacular displays of gushing lava, forced the temporary closure of Sicily's Catania Airport, a frequent occurrence when Etna is in an active phase.

As Tuesday's volcanic activity was largely expected, areas surrounding the crater were secured and there were no reported injuries or deaths. But nearby residents said the eruption was unusual in that big chunks of volcanic stones carpeted the area, not just ash.

"It was a rain of stones. Something I never saw in my entire life," Pedara resident Letizia Olivieri said.

Ash and stones rain down from Mt Etna on Tuesday. Photo / Davide Anastasi, AP

Pedara Mayor Alfio Cristaudo said the village was in emergency mode from the extent of the eruption.

"The entire territory of Pedara and all the streets are covered in volcanic ashes and lapillus," or volcanic stones, he said.

Residents and local teams cleaned streets, courtyards and cars, bagging the ash and waiting for municipal collectors to take it away. Driving motorbikes and scooters was forbidden, and the speed limit for cars was reduced to limit the further spread of ash.

Lava gushes from the Mt Etna volcano near Catania in Sicily, Tuesday. Photo / Salvatore Allegra

Pedara resident Massimiliano Formica said he was at home Tuesday afternoon when he heard what he thought was the beginning of a rainstorm. But when he looked outside, he saw it was "raining in a weird way. I went out and I saw soil falling down. Also big stones."

Etna is a popular tourist destination, and its eruptions, especially when seen at night, are spectacular to watch.

- Associated Press