Skiers hit slopes below snow-covered volcano in Sicily.Mount Etna, the volcano on the Italian island of Sicily, erupted on Saturday, emitting huge plumes of ash and smoke as skiers used the slopes below.  The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said that volcanic activity had intensified at the site, which is Europe's largest active volcano.   Scientists issued an aviation pre-alert however the nearby Catania airport remained open and authorities said flights would continue to operate as normal unless ashfall increased.   Sicilian civil protection authorities on Saturday issued a warning for "high probability of imminent lava fountains occurring" however the alert was downgraded later that evening.   The volcanic activity is linked to Etna's northeast crater, with winds carrying the ash cloud in a northeasterly direction, amid reports of ash falling in Piano Provenzana and Taormina.   Photo La Sicilia

Mount Etna, the volcano on the Italian island of Sicily, erupted on Saturday, emitting huge plumes of ash and smoke as skiers used the slopes below.