A fresh eruption of Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily has prompted the suspension of all flight operations at Catania Airport until Sunday. The decision was made on Saturday in response to significant ash clouds produced by the volcano.
The airport management had initially limited operations until Saturday afternoon but later decided to halt all incoming and outgoing flights until noon on Sunday, as reported by the EFE agency, and cited by Agerpres.
Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines for the status of their flights before heading to the airport, according to a notice shared on social media.
On Saturday morning, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) issued a “red” alert, the highest level, due to the ongoing eruption.
INGV confirmed in its bulletin that a volcanic ash cloud has reached an altitude of 4 kilometers and is moving south towards Catania.
In addition to the eruption, the Sicilian city has also been affected by a severe storm accompanied by heavy rainfall, notes the EFE agency.
Etna is known for its frequent activity, often causing disruptions at nearby airports. The last similar event occurred on Thursday.
This year, continuous eruptions beginning August 7 have caused chaos during the peak summer season, with ash clouds leading to the cancellation and rerouting of numerous flights in Sicily.
