Lava erupted from the Bocca Nuova crater on Monday, February 10, offering a spectacular spectacle against the snow-covered peak of Mount Etna. Videos of the eruption went viral as soon as viewers saw the rare and captivating image of molten lava meeting snow online.

A river of lava flowing for around 3 kilometres down the volcano has been imaged by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites

Mountain police in Italy have urged tourists not to get too close to Mount Etna's lava flows, as people flock to the area following the volcano's latest eruption. Restrictions in force require people to stay a minimum distance 500 metres from the lava flow and to visit only if accompanied by guides.