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Mount Etna caused reporter to be pelted by debris

Posted at 8:36 PM, Mar 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-16 20:36:24-04

Mount Etna surprised scientists and citizens on Thursday as the volcano had a large eruption, injuring 10, according to the BBC

The volcano, which stands 10,000 feet over the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Italy, is one of the largest active volcanoes in Europe. The volcano has averaged one eruption a year in the last 50 years.

Thursday's eruption marked the third volcanic event on the mountain in the last three weeks.  

In 2015, a large volcanic event caused local airports to close due to a plum of ash. 

Rebecca Morelle, a reporter for BBC News, was on scene during the eruption. Morelle said that she encountered burning boulders, getting pelted by rocks and boiling steam. BBC's crew captured the eruption and the escape from the mountain on video.

Thursday's event was considered a phreatic eruption, which means hot lava flowed over snow, causing steam to rise into sky. 

While 10 were injured from Etna's eruption, no one was killed.