Watch Sicily's Mount Etna Erupt in This Timelapse Video

Last week, Sicily’s Mount Etna violently erupted after two years of dormancy. For nearly an hour, Europe’s tallest active volcano shot flames, lava, and ash into the sky as it experienced its strongest eruption in nearly two decades. The geological phenomenon also triggered a spectacular show of rare volcanic lightning, which, as Slate’s Eric Holthaus explains, was caused by ash particles rubbing together to create electrical charges. No one was harmed by the spectacle—and now, you can safely witness the stunning natural show in full via this timelapse video released by Barcroft TV.

All images courtesy of YouTube.

[h/t Smithsonian, Slate, The Washington Post]