BELGRADE, Serbia 

The Italian island of Sicily on Friday was forced to temporarily shut down its largest airport after Mount Etna and a smaller volcano on a nearby island spewed hot ash and lava.

Volcanic activities have mounted in the last few days, raising alert levels as lava and ash eruptions reached high levels.

Sicily closed Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport near the island’s eastern coast as the streets of the center of Catania are covered in black ash, slowing traffic.

Air transportation had already been affected by the ash and smoke emerging from Mount Etna.

Etna's volcanic activity reached a height of approximately 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) on Thursday.

Mount Stromboli on the island of the same name, situated north of Sicily, is also producing volcanic explosions.

According to the latest reports, the volcano on Stromboli, which is part of the Aeolian archipelago, started to intensively spew ash, lava, and rock fragments.

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the ashes emitted by Mount Stromboli reached a height of approximately 2 km (1.24 mi).

The Civil Defense Department said on X that the alarm level was increased to the highest red level.

''The verification of all materials, vehicles, health resources, personnel, logistical bases and the plan to assist fragile subjects in order to ensure operational readiness in the event of evolution of the phenomena is underway,'' it said.

Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, last erupted this strongly with ash and lava last December.

Etna has an altitude of 3,300 meters (over 10,800 feet) above sea level, while Stromboli has an altitude of 920 m (3,018 ft).