Ten people have been injured in Italy after an earthquake triggered by Mount Etna rocked the region.

In the early hours of Boxing Day in eastern Sicily, locals fled their homes after the ground moved beneath them during the 4.8 magnitude quake.

Image: A quake in Italy has caused damage to cars and homes

Italian volcano spews steam and smoke

The quake, which struck at 3.19am local time, was part of a series of some 1,000 mostly weak tremors, according to Italy's Civil Protection officials.

An 80-year-old man was pulled from the rubble of a house, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

Image: A number of houses have been damaged

Some rural homes were damaged and a statue in a church in the town of Santa Venerina collapsed.


Cracks appeared on a road in the area.

Image: Buildings in the area will have to be rebuilt

A woman told local radio that a heavy wardrobe in her home fell over during the quake and trapped her sister, who had to be pulled out by their father.

"Etna remains a dangerous volcano, and this country of ours is unfortunately fragile," government undersecretary Vito Crimi said.

The civil protection agency said temporary shelters were being set up for people whose houses were damaged or who are too worried to return to their homes.

Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has been erupting since Monday, when ash from the volcano temporarily forced Sicilian airspace to shut.