Ash from Sicily's Mount Etna suspends arrivals at airport
Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, shot out smoke and ash in a new eruption, forcing the suspension of arrivals at a nearby airport on Sicily.
A new eruption at Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano, has led to the suspension of incoming flights at Catania International Airport on Sicily. The volcano, which began showing increased activity on Thursday evening, produced a powerful lava fountain overnight. A significant ash cloud, spreading southeast, caused ashfall in nearby towns Ragalna and Adrano.
An eruptive vent opened at an altitude of about 2,750 meters, resulting in a new lava flow in the Valle del Leone. The aviation alert was raised to red, affecting operations at the airport. Catania International Airport closed airspace corresponding to the ash cloud (Sector C1) and suspended all arrivals until 12:00 local time (1000 GMT).
Departures from the airport continued as usual. The eruption, visible on a webcam, produced a plume of smoke. Mount Etna, located at 3,324 meters, has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years and Catania International Airport handles around 12 million passengers annually, serving Sicily, a major tourist destination in Italy.
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