A photo of smoke billowing from Mount Vesuvius shows what appears to be a ghoulish face looming above southern Italy’s famous volcano. The disturbing image was taken as wildfires force evacuations from surrounding areas.

“After millennia the monster of Vesuvius came out,” Rosario Scotto Di Minico posted on Facebook along with the image, which shows a menacing face emerging from the pattern of smoke.

Speaking to RT.com he said the nightmarish image was captured on camera phone by Albarosa Scotto di Minico.

Despite the quantity of smoke billowing from Vesuvius, it’s not in the process of erupting, instead wildfires have led to evacuations of locals.

READ MORE: Mount Vesuvius on fire: People evacuated as smoke engulfs volcano, seen from Pompeii

High temperatures in Italy are straining emergency services with 698 operations taking place across the country, according to the national fire service. Some 476 of the operations are wildfires, with Vesuvius amongst the most serious.

(13lug-8:00) Sono in corso in Italia 698 interventi ad opera delle squadre #vigilidelfuoco. 476 riguardanti incendi di vegetazione — Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) July 13, 2017

Does the smoke resemble a skull?