Sicily: Mount Etna ash disrupts Catania flights again
A thick ash cloud from Mount Etna has been disrupting flights to Catania in Sicily for several days. Italy and Europe's most active volcano, Etna has impacted air travel several times this summer.
Flight disruptions at Catania Airport in Sicily were extended on Monday due to an ash cloud from Mount Etna, according to a report by Sicily Airport Operator SAC. The ash cloud forced authorities to halt all flight operations at the busy hub, which will remain suspended until at least midnight local time on Monday. In an effort to minimize the impact on travelers, flights were rerouted to other Sicilian airports, Palermo and Comiso, where possible.
Catania, Italy's fifth busiest airport and the largest hub on the island, typically sees a high volume of holiday travelers. The Mediterranean island has frequently experienced flight disruptions this summer due to eruptions and ash emissions from Mount Etna, a 3,400 meter stratovolcano. The Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology stated that the current ash cloud does not indicate an imminent explosive phase.
Mount Etna, located near the city of Catania, is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe and Italy's highest peak south of the Alps. It has caused airport disruptions in the region several times this year. The volcano has been the site of volcanic activity for about half a million years, with the first eruptions documented in Roman and Greek mythology.
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