Italy's Mount Etna put on a dramatic show early on Sunday (August 4), erupting with a breathtaking display of ash and smoke. The eruption, which occurred at dawn, saw a massive plume rise from the Voragine crater on the southeast side of Europe's tallest and most active volcano.

Mount Etna erupts, puts on spectacular ‘lava fountain’ display over Sicily. Watch!

In an extremely rare phenomenon caused by the constant release of vapours and gases, the world’s most active stratovolcano, Mount Etna, located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy is blowing out volcanic vortex rings.

WATCH: Mount Etna puffs out ‘smoke rings’ in rare phenomenon

Mount Etna, which has been erupting regularly since February, has left thousands of towns in Sicily facing bankruptcy. The disposal of ash is subject to a premium of approximately €20 (£17) a cubic meter in Italy since it is considered special refuse.

Clean-up costs from Etna threaten to bankrupt several Sicilian towns

As Mount Sinabung spews ash, here's a look at recent volcanic activities