Ash billows into sky as Mount Etna erupts sparking ‘red alert’ | News World
Mount Etna erupted, releasing volcanic ash two and a half miles into the sky and causing significant travel disruptions. Hundreds of flights to Catania, Sicily, have been cancelled or diverted as a result of the eruption.
The Etna Volcano Observatory has issued a red VONA alert due to the significant ash cloud affecting air travel in the region. This year has seen an increase in ash emissions, with last month marking the longest closure of Catania Airport since 2002, impacting holiday travel during peak season.
Experts from the Etna Volcano Observatory have issued a red VONA alert due to increased volcanic ash emissions, which have caused significant flight disruptions, particularly affecting Catania Airport where 36% of flights were cancelled recently. In response to the situation, authorities are advising travellers to check their flight statuses as ongoing ash clouds drift towards key transport hubs.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how long the current ash emissions will continue or if additional precautions will be implemented for affected flights.
Mount Etna erupts, releasing ash two and a half miles into sky and prompting travel disruptions
Hundreds of flights have been diverted or cancelled (Picture: via Reuters)
Mount Etna has erupted, sending clouds of volcanic ash billowing two and a half miles into the sky and causing travel disruption.
Travellers with flights to Catania, Sicily, have been urged to check the status of their journey after hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted.
The recent eruption of Europe’s tallest and most active volcano has prompted experts at the Etna Volcano Observatory to issue a red VONA (Volcano Observatory Notice to Aviation) alert for the ash cloud, which was seen drifting towards the Italy transport hub.
Airport operator SAC said 36% of flights bound for Catania were cancelled between August 6 and 12.
More than 600 flights were diverted to nearby airports, including Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and Lamezia Terme.
Mount Etna erupts several times a year, and flight disruptions due to eruptions are not uncommon.
Etna erupts several times a year (Picture: via Reuters)
Ash billowed two and a half miles into the air (Picture: via Reuters)
However, ash emissions have been particularly bad this year, and with peak holiday season still underway, thousands have been affected.
Just last month, Catania Airport was again forced to shut because of the ash for five consecutive days – the longest period since 2002.
The closure coincided with the Ferragosto holiday, an Italian public holiday and Catholic celebration on August 15.
This typically marks the height of the Italian summer season, but this year, many typically bustling destinations were much emptier than usual.
It’s not just Italy affected by the recent eruption; northerly winds have carried ash across to Malta and parts of northern Africa.
Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, said: ‘There have been many shorter interruptions — and stronger eruptions — over the past few decades, but this event is different because the ash emission from Etna’s summit has been much more persistent.’
Mount Etna is located around 22 miles from Catania, Sicily’s second city.
The ancient port settlement is often a jumping-off point for tourists looking to visit the volcano.
But it also has to contend with the fallout of frequent eruptions – in 2001, the volcano erupted a staggering 16 times.
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