An eruption from a volcano on the Sicilian island of Stromboli killed a hiker and forced about 30 tourists to jump in the sea for safety, Italian media reports.
Civil protection authorities said the hiker was killed on Wednesday during the eruption, which sent molten material skywards and ignited a series of fires.
Witness Gianluca Giuffre told Italian news agency ANSA that it was "a very violent explosion followed by a shower of glowing lapilli and lava material."
Lapilli are rock fragments ejected from a volcano.
People in the nearby town of Ginostra barricaded themselves in houses or threw themselves into the sea, Mr Giuffre said.
Italy has three main active volcanoes: Etna on Sicily, Vesuvius near Naples and Stromboli, which shares the name of the small Sicilian island. Stromboli is one of the oldest continuously active volcanoes in the world, and have been erupting for the past 2,000 years.
Smoke billows and flammes propaqate accross the hillside neqr houses after the Stromboli volcano erupted on the Stromboli island, north of Sicily. A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli erupted dramatically killing a hiker and sending tourists fleeing into the sea. AFP
Ash rises into the sky after a volcano eruption on a small island of Stromboli, Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hit by a set of violent volcano eruptions spurring beach tourists to take into the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano. EPA
A Canadair plane drops water after the Stromboli volcano eruption started forest fires, in Stromboli, Italy. Reuters
The Stromboli volcano is pictured in eruption on on the Stromboli island, north of Sicily. A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli erupted dramatically reportedly killing a hiker and sending tourists fleeing, but firefighters could not immediately confirm any casualties. AFP
Smoke billows from the volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli. The news agency ANSA says that some 30 tourists jumped into the sea out of fear after a series of volcano erupted on the Sicilian island of Stromboli. Civil protection authorities said a hiker was confirmed killed by the eruptions. AP
Ash and smoke rises after a volcano eruption started wildfires in Stromboli, Italyin this still image obtained from social media video. Reuters
Ash rises into the sky after a volcano eruption on a small island of Stromboli, Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hit by a set of violent volcano eruptions spurring beach tourists to take into the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano. EPA
Ash rises into the sky after a volcano eruption on a small island of Stromboli, Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hit by a set of violent volcano eruptions spurring beach tourists to take into the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano. EPA
Ash rises into the sky after a volcano eruption on a small island of Stromboli, Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hit by a set of violent volcano eruptions spurring beach tourists to take into the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano. EPA
Ash rises into the sky after a volcano eruption on a small island of Stromboli, Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hit by a set of violent volcano eruptions spurring beach tourists to take into the sea. Two new lava spouts are creeping down the volcano. EPA
Firefighters sweep up ash in the village of Ginostra, on the small Sicilian island of Stromboli, southern Italy, a day after the Stromboli volcano erupted. Civil protection authorities said a hiker was killed during the eruptionswhich sent about 30 tourists jumping into the sea for safety. AP
A firefighters' boat docks at the village of Ginostra, on the small Sicilian island of Stromboli, southern Italy, a day after the Stromboli volcano, seen in the background, erupted. Civil protection authorities said a hiker was killed during the eruptions on Wednesday which sent about 30 tourists jumping into the sea for safety. AP
A Canadair plane drops water after the Stromboli volcano eruption started forest fires, in Stromboli, Italy. Reuters
epa07693740 Ash rises into the sky after a volcanic eruption during early morning on the small island of Stromboli, southern Italy. According to reports, the island of Stromboli was hitby a set of violent volcanic eruptions that triggered panic among residents and tourists. Two new lava spouts are reported to creep down the volcano. EPA
Updated: July 04, 2019, 2:27 PM