Mount Etna erupts in spectacular fashion – in pictures

A store owner sweeps up ash that fell on Tuesday during an eruption of Mount Etna

Ash from the eruption covers a street in Catania

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, spews ash and lava, as seen from Catania

Lava gushes from the volcano

Ash and smoke billow into the sky as lava spews from Mount Etna

Smoke billows from Mount Etna on Tuesday

The eruption generated about six lava flows that poured into the Valley of the Ox, one of the volcano’s many live craters