Mt Etna and Stromboli volcanoes erupt over Italy

The Mt Etna and Stromboli volcanoes erupted on Friday, sending hot ash and lava into the skies of Sicily.

The eruptions forced a temporary shutdown at Catania Airport and prompted Italy's civil protection agency to issue a red alert for Stromboli.

Representatives for the airport say operations are expected to resume at 3pm local time.

Italy's Mt Etna and Stromboli volcanoes erupted on Friday, spewing hot ash and lava into the skies of Sicily.

Etna, located near Catania on the Italian island's eastern coast, is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has seen intense activity in recent days.

The smaller Stromboli volcano, located on Sicily's northern coast, spilled lava into the sea.

Etna has seen intense activity in recent days.(Reuters: Etna Walk/Giuseppe Di Stefano)

The volcanic ash fall forced a temporary shutdown of Catania Airport on Friday, while Italy's civil protection agency issued a red alert for Stromboli.

Warning the situation could deteriorate, Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said Stromboli was "under surveillance" and authorities were making sure evacuation plans were ready in case of emergency.

The fire brigade said they had pre-emptively doubled the number of firefighters on the island.

Following the eruption, Catania residents and authorities moved to clean up streets and cars which had been left smothered in black volcanic ash.

Representatives for the airport said in a statement that operations were expected to resume at 3pm local time.

Reuters