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Photos posted by residents show the black and grey smoke spewed over the blue skies as Etna blew her top on Christmas Eve.

Seismic activity has been rocking the active volcano for the past few days, with lava seen bubbling up from its crater.

Locals have reported hearing a "massive explosion" – and those used to living the shadow of the volcano have predicted ash rain.

Others described the latest eruption as "violent" and raised fears for the nearby Catania International Airport.

Francesca Marchese wrote: "Ms Etna is performing a Christmas show. Many little earthquakes in the last few hours."

(Image: TWITTER/@FraCastiglione)

(Image: TWITTERTWITTER/Giorgio Previtera)

Tremors as large at 3.9 magnitude were felt ahead of the Christmas Eve eruption as the ash cloud begins to loom over the nearby Catania.

"Etna today is making a mess and obviously could not miss the shock of earthquake," said a local.

The eruption has reportedly stemmed from the base of the south east crater where a fissure has opened up in the mountain.

Others said Etna is "very angry" and "merry Christmas from Mama Etna" – while some added the eruption was "very scary".

(Image: TWITTER/@targsuitsme)

(Image: TWITTER/@gian90t)

Local resident Andrea Lo Cicero wrote: "Etna expresses itself with great elegance. I just hope it doesn't express itself with too much energy."

And another added: "The great lady, Etna, has woken up, four earthquakes in an hour, and now.... smokes and erupts."

Etna is Europe's highest and most active volcano and the fire-spitting mountain began to eject lava last week.

Currently there is no immediate danger posed by the volcanos – but there are fears the eruption could intensify.

(Image: TWITTER/@Meltin_pots)

Mount Etna – an 11,000 foot high peak – has seen an increase in activity since last February.

Scientists previously warned a major eruption from Etna could trigger a tsunami .

The mountain already known to be shifting towards the Mediterranean.

Elsewhere in the world, Krakatoa erupted causing a tsunami which killed at 280 people after it hit Indonesia.

(Image: TWITTER/@Marti141216)

Etna erupted last year injuring 10 people after flowing magma came into contact with slow.

The combination caused a violent explosion that sent stone and rocks flying into the air.

Amongst those hurt near the summit of Etna were members of a television crew filming for the BBC.

“Running down a mountain pelted by rocks, dodging burning boulders and boiling steam - not an experience I ever ever want to repeat,” the BBC’s science correspondent Rebecca Morelle wrote on Twitter.