A large cloud of ash covered the sky, while firefighters were forced to rush to put out wildfires sparked by the lava flows.
Emergency services scrambled to launch motorboats and helicopters after the “strong explosion” in the south-central slope of the crater shook the island.
No injuries were reported.
The volcano, which is part of the Aeolian Islands archipelago in southern Italy, had been off limits to walkers following a deadly eruption in July which killed a hiker and sent tourists fleeing.
Stromboli is one of few continuously active volcanos in the world, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
