Rome, June 2 -- Mount Etna, a volcano on the Italian island of Sicily, has erupted, spewing ash and lava, CBS News reported citing nation's volcano monitoring body.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, which monitors volcanic activity in Italy, reported that the eruptions have been increasing in intensity and are now almost continuous.

As the situation developed, INGV Vulcani, the institute, said in a social media post that the "explosive activity from the Southeast Crater has become a lava fountain." Infrared images captured by the institute show lava flowing down the mountain's face.

However, there was no immediate report of any risk to the local population, which is accustomed to Etna's frequent eruptions or to air ...