As per report it was stated that some buildings were reportedly damaged in what was the latest in dozens of tremors since Etna erupted on Monday. Accordingly volcanic ash had earlier covered nearby villages, and flights to and from Catania airport had to be halted temporarily, where people on the mountainside were told to escape quickly.
Meanwhile the earthquake struck at 03:19 local time (02:19 GMT) on Wednesday near the municipality of Viagrande. Reportedly Italian media report panic among local residents, many of whom ran out into the streets. Furthermore there were also reports of buildings shaking in Catania, a city of more than 300,000 people. Italy's INGV volcanology institute said that during a three hour period from 08:50 (07:50 GMT) on Monday more than 130 earthquakes took place.
Moreover the biggest tremor of magnitude 4 was on the north-east side of Etna near Piano Pernicana, while another of similar magnitude was felt on the northern flank. Perhaps that was followed by intense eruptions from the volcano's new south-east crater.
