<P> On 3 December 2015, an eruption occurred which climaxed between 03: 20 and 04: 10 local time . The Voragine crater exhibited a lava fountain which reached 1 km (3,300 ft) in height, with an ash plume which reached 3 km (9,800 ft) in height . The activity continued on the following days, with an ash plume that reached 7 km (23,000 ft) in height that forced Catania airport to shut down for a few hours . Volcanic gas emissions from this volcano are measured by a Multi-Component Gas Analyzer System, which detects pre-eruptive degassing of rising magmas, improving prediction of volcanic activity . </P> <P> An eruption on 16 March 2017 injured 10 people, including a BBC News television crew, after magma exploded upon contact with snow . </P> <P> The Global Volcanism Program has assigned a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) to all of Mount Etna's eruptions since January 1955 . </P> <Table> Volcanic explosivity index for Mount Etna's eruptions since January 1955 <Tr> <Th> VEI </Th> <Th> Number of eruptions (total = 49) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> VEI 0 </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> VEI 1 </Th> <Td> 17 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> VEI 2 </Th> <Td> 24 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> VEI 3 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When was the first recorded eruption of etna