Yet another European hotspot getting fed-up as 'tourists wear plastic bags on their feet'

Police in Sicily are becoming increasingly frustrated with visitors flocking to watch Mount Etna’s ongoing eruptions and are ignoring warnings and restrictions.

Since Europe’s most active volcano began erupting earlier this month, locals have observed a worrying deterioration in tourist behaviour.

“During these 12 days of eruptions, we have seen so many absurd situations,” said photojournalist Giuseppe Distefano. “There are some walking to the lava flow with plastic bags on their feet so as to not wet their shoes with snow and ice.”

Current restrictions limit tourists to a minimum of 500 metres away from the lava flow and activities like skiing are also banned.

However, footage has emerged of people ignoring these rules and several have been hurt or found themselves in dangerous situations.

“There have been several injuries, including someone who broke their ankle,” Mr Distefano told The Telegraph. “Some have got hypothermia, some have got lost.”

With no guard at the entrance to the main track, Pista Altomontana, during this latest eruption, visitors without a guide to stop them have been attempting some bizarre and extremely dangerous stunts.

“Someone roasted a sausage on a lava rock, and another guy I know brewed a coffee with an Italian coffee maker,” Mr Distefano added. He also said he received a request from a wine producer who wanted to photograph a bottle being destroyed by the lava flow. He rejected the request, despite the offer of a considerable sum.

Videos began to circulate online, forcing local police to put bans on approaching the lava flow and making guided tours compulsory.

As a result, while visitors used to be able to watch the eruption from Mount Etna’s slopes for free, now they must cough up 50 to 85 euros (£41-70).

“Inappropriately” dressed visitors have also led to increased work for the mountain rescue. It’s “as if they were in Catania centre,” said Marshal Angelo Previtera, who works for the Guardia di Finanza force. “These last rescues that we did, we noticed that people were coming with tennis shoes in unsuitable clothing.”

Mr Previtera added that even those who know the area should carry a head torch and always communicate where they are going.

Mr Distefano put the growth of social media down to people wanting to undertake these perilous journeys.

“Some people try to have the best video to share on social media. If you say: ‘We need to stop here,’ they will say: ‘I can give you €1,000 more – can we go there?’

“I will say ‘No, if we go there you will take an incredible video, but tomorrow you will go away and I will stay here, and it will create big trouble for me. Here is perfect, another 500m won’t change your incredible picture.’”

In 2017, 10 people from a BBC crew were injured when they were caught out by an explosion close to a lava flow. “Nobody was killed, luckily,” he added.