Explosive scenes: Volcanoes active around the world

Volcanic eruptions have occurred in several regions of the world in recent days. In addition to Mount Etna in Italy, there have also been eruptions in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Many volcanoes are currently active. On Sicily, Mount Etna erupted last weekend. It ejected a large cloud of ash and volcanic stones, so-called lapilli. Flight operations at Catania airport had to be temporarily suspended.

Several volcanoes in Central America are also rumbling. In Costa Rica, the Rincón de la Vieja volcano emitted a 3-kilometre-high ash cloud on Thursday. After a quiet phase, the volcano's activity has increased again since April. The authorities called on people not to approach the volcano.

The 1900-metre-high mountain is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes and is located in the northwest of the country, about 270 kilometres from the capital San José.

In Mexico, too, a volcano has been very active for weeks: Popocatépetl, 85 kilometres southeast of Mexico City, covered several villages with a layer of ash. Classes were cancelled at hundreds of schools and flights were cancelled.