FRIDAY FOTO (February 26, 2021)

Letting Off a Little Steam.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin Ingram)

Italy’s Mount Etna volcano releases some steam in the background of this February 16, 2021 photo of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. (Click on the photo to enlarge image).

The planes are assigned to the “Grey Knights” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 46. The squadron is forward-deployed to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations and is assigned to Commander, Task Force 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout Europe and Africa.

Located on the island of Sicily, Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano erupted the same day this photo was taken. The volcano is located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the base.

According to the Associated Press, Etna’s latest eruption has caused neither injuries nor evacuation. Occasionally, the airport at Catania, eastern Sicily’s largest city, has to close down for hours or days, when ash in the air makes flying in the area dangerous.

For over a week, Etna has been belching lava, ash and volcanic rocks on a regular basis. The Catania Airport closed temporarily, and residents of the town of Pedara said it appeared one day last week as if it were raining rocks as a thick blanket of ash covered the town, according to the website, Phys.Org.