Flights serving Catania, an eastern city in Sicily, were brought to a standstill on Monday due to an eruption from the nearby Mount Etna. This event has added to the ongoing travel challenges faced by the crisis-affected Italian airport. The airport, which sees more arrivals than the island's capital, Palermo, only one month ago suffered a terminal building fire which led to weeks of disruptions for passengers.
The airport operator released a statement stating that flights to and from Catania, a popular tourist destination, will remain suspended until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday morning. This dashed hopes of a potential resumption on Monday night. Travellers were advised to verify flight statuses with their respective airlines before making their way to the airport on Tuesday.
On Monday, incoming flights were redirected to other airports on Sicily. This incident occurred during the peak of Italy's summer holiday season, with Tuesday being a public holiday.
In response to the situation, Catania Mayor Enrico Trantino enacted measures to manage the aftermath. Motorcycles and bicycles were prohibited from city usage for the next 48 hours due to streets being coated in ash. Additionally, a maximum speed limit of 30 kph (19 mph) was imposed for cars due to the slippery road conditions caused by the ash.
The volcano, towering at a height of 3,330 meters (10,925 feet), became active during the night, ejecting both lava and ash high into the skies above the Mediterranean island. While the lava flow had subsided by dawn, ash was still being emitted from one of the craters.
See the volcanic eruption below
The most recent significant eruption of Mount Etna took place in 1992.
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