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Italy's Stromboli volcano has exploded in front of frightened holidaymakers, spewing an ash cloud and rocks, sending a river of lava into the sea and setting vegetation on fire.
The eruption appeared to be stronger than one in July which killed a hiker and forced terrified tourists to dive into the sea as rocks rained down.
Londoner Nicole Bremner, who witnessed Wednesday's powerful blast, tweeted: "We were just at #Stromboli volcano watching the small eruptions. We left and then this giant eruption happened!
"A couple of smaller eruptions now and this metallic taste in our mouths. Waiting to see if we need to help with evacuations."
Tourists gathered to watch ash billow into the sky and lava gush down the slopes of the "unpredictable" volcano after a huge roar was heard and felt for miles around.