Living in shadow of a volcano

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Lava exploding from Mount Etna is providing a spectacular sight for residents of nearby towns every night.

The volcano on the Italian island of Sicily has been increasingly active during the past week, spewing lava, ash and rock from several fissures.

Rivers of lava have flowed down Mount Etna, threatening nearby villages despite thousands of gallons of water being dropped by air to try to cool the advancing lava.

"At night time it's a wonderful show -- even if it is dangerous and causing a lot of damage," 21-year-old American Amalia Calasiore told CNN.

VIDEO Residents in the area of Italy's Mt.Etna are keeping an eye on Europe's most active volcano (July 25) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES Etna threat receding     EXTRA INFORMATION • Gallery: Etna's spectacular eruption   • Classroom discussion guide from CNNfyi

The eruption has caused $3.1 million in damage, including losses in tourism and agriculture, the local government said.

Calasiore, a student at University of Catania near the foot of Mount Etna, said "It really is something, you have to see it because it's hard to describe -- the lava show is spectacular nature."

Her home an hour from Catania is covered in ash, but she has had no problems breathing.

"The sky is grey, there is ash everywhere, " she said.

Ash from Europe's most active volcano has covered the streets of Catania, but the airport reopened on Tuesday after strong winds swept the black dust off the runway.

In villages closer to the volcano people protect themselves from the ash with umbrellas, as small earthquakes rumble intermittently.

As Etna comes to life every few months, Calasiore said she had not been worried about the latest bout of activity.

"We live with it, people are used to it. They're not afraid of it," she said.

Catania taxi driver Mario Laudani was more worried, saying: "I've seen various eruptions and I love Mount Etna, but this time I'm a little concerned, as we just don't know what will happen."

Another Italian Pippo Vassallo told Reuters news agency: "We live in fire, that's our land, so we can't be impressed by this latest activity. Whoever is afraid is lost."

A newly wed couple having their wedding pictures taken in the city's streets said they had not even thought about the eruption.

"We haven't been at all afraid, we're too happy and haven't thought about Etna at all," the couple said.

The last major eruption of Mount Etna, which towers 10,860 feet above Sicily, was in 1992. The director of the national civil protection force, Franco Barberi, said the volcano needed close monitoring, particularly the mouth threatening the Sapienza refuge, a tourist destination on the side of the mountain.

A state of emergency remains in the region, with dozens of families on standby to be evacuated from the village of Nicolosi.