Thousands of ‘danger tourists’ have travelled to the slopes of Mount Etna in Italy to witness explosive lava flows and breathtaking ash clouds after its latest eruption. Sicily’s iconic volcano, which is the tallest and most active in Europe,

A week of spectacular lava sprays on Sicily’s snow-capped Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanos, has drawn thousands of people wanting to see the eruption. But the sudden influx of sightseers has become a safety risk, according to Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily’s regional Civil Protection agency.

A lot of people are trying to get closer to admire this natural phenomenon,” a local mayor warned his community. “But it is extremely dangerous!”

Officials warned tourists visiting Italy’s Mount Etna volcano to come prepared with guides and avoid blocking roads as thousands flocked to view the eruption in mid-February. In a statement to Facebook,