Italy’s Mount Etna has come roaring back to life once again, causing one of Sicily’s busiest airports to close down, causing flights into and out of the region to be delayed, canceled or diverted.
Catania–Fontanarossa International Airport, which serves the eastern part of Sicily, will remain closed through at least 8:00 p.m. local time on Monday, due to the risk posed by falling ash, the airport press office said in a statement.
“All arrivals and departures are therefore prohibited,” the statement reads, noting that, “passengers are kindly requested to present themselves at the airport only after consulting their airline.”
Europe’s tallest volcano, and one of the continent’s most active, she began spewing forth a cloud of volcanic ash late on Sunday.
The volcanic activity has since evolved into a “lava fountain”, according to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna observatory. The institute said it is, “producing a fallout of ash in the southern sector of the volcano and beyond.”
Dozens of flights have been delayed or cancelled due to dangers posed by the falling ash, including domestic flights out of other Italian regions, as well as inbound international flights from the U.K., France, Malta and Austria.
Catania’s Mayor Enrico Trantino has also banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles during the next two days, “because several areas are covered with a layer of volcanic ash,” The National News reported. Ash can quickly become slippery as its coats roadway and heightens the risk of accidents.
Catania’s airport has had its share of difficulties lately. CTV News reported that the airport has resume operations merely days ago after a major fire in Terminal A building caused a series of disruptions, although flight diversions and cancellations are still occurring as a result. The airport was also forced to shut down due to an eruption of Mount Etna as recently as May 22.
Sicily has become an even more busy tourist destination since the second season of HBO’s extremely popular original series “The White Lotus” selected the Mediterranean island as its sumptuous setting. Its enticing depiction of the destination has led it to become one of the year’s most conspicuous targets of travelers’ set-jetting behavior trend.