(ANSA) - A series of minor earthquakes shook the slopes of Sicily's Mount Etna on Sunday morning, scaring residents but causing no damage.
Experts said a dozen quakes rocked the southeastern side of the volcano shortly after 7.00 a.m., with the strongest notching up 3.7 on the Richter scale. The tremors were preceded by a single, sharp quake which measured 3.2 on the Richter scale, they said.
The quakes were felt by residents living on the slopes of the volcano and in the city of Catania, which lies at its foot. People living in Zafferana Etnea, the town nearest the epicenter, ran out onto the streets in fear. Etna is Europe's most active volcano. In October 2002, more than 1,000 people living on the southeastern side of the mount were left temporarily homeless by a strong quake.
