Sicily's Mount Etna spewed great plumes of bright orange lava into the air on Thursday as it erupted for the first time in the New Year.
At dawn, clouds of smoke and ash could be seen billowing out of the mouth of the volcano, turning the snow-decked slopes black.
Etna has several inhabited villages on its slopes.
Eruptions are not infrequent and Italian airliners sometimes have to alter their routes to avoid flying through ash cloud.
The volcanology institute in Catania, eastern Sicily, is constantly monitoring Etna which is considered to be Europe's most active volcano.
Its last major eruption was in 1992.
AP