A volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli erupted on Wednesday, throwing ash high into the sky and enveloping the popular tourist destination in smoke, the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) said.

Rescue services said the eruption had started fires on the western side of the small Mediterranean island north of Sicily. Fire crews were being called in from nearby locations and a Canadair plane was already in action.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.