Latest news with #CataniaAirport
Time Out
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time Out
Is it safe to travel to Sicily? Latest advice following Mount Etna eruption
On Monday June 2, Sicily 's Mount Etna erupted, spewing plumes of ash and lava into the air and sending hikers running for their lives. The volcano, on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily, is the most active in Europe. While ash emissions and eruptions are a common occurrence at Mount Etna, this is its most powerful blast in four years, according to experts. So, is it safe to travel right now? What should you do if you have a trip booked? Here's all the latest travel advice. What's the latest with the Mount Etna eruption? The eruption began at around 3.50am local time, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, with volcanic activity intensifying throughout the morning. A huge cloud of smoke was seen billowing above the town of Catania, and video footage shows tourists fleeing the eruption down the mountain. The eruption lasted around 10 hours, ending at approximately 4.56pm local time on Monday June 2. Is it safe to travel to Sicily? Yes, at the time of writing, it is safe to travel to Sicily. No injuries or casualties have been reported, and as of Tuesday June 3, the eruption has ended. Are flights to Sicily affected by the Mount Etna eruption? A red aviation warning was initially issued by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse, but has since been downgraded to orange. A handful of flights were delayed or diverted from nearby Catania Airport on Monday, but flights are currently travelling to and from Sicily as normal. When was the last time Mount Etna erupted? As Europe's most active volcano, strombolian activity, ash emissions and eruptions are a regular occurrence at Mount Etna. The last large eruption was in August 2024, when a volcanic ash cloud caused Catania Airport to close.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Mount Etna erupts: All about Europe's most active volcano
Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy erupted once again on Monday (June 2, 2025), putting up a spectacular display even as it sent a cloud of smoke and ash up several kilometres into the air. According to the authorities, the eruption does not pose any threat to people, although the alert level of the Catania Airport was raised. The ash cloud ended by afternoon. More about Mount Etna A UNESCO world heritage site, Mount Etna is one of Europe's, and the world's, most active volcanoes. At least 2,700 years of eruption activity have been documented for the volcano, which, according to UNESCO, is one of the world's longest documented records of historic volcanic activity. Sicily's Mount Etna erupts Mount Etna roughly stands at an impressive 3,300 metres, which is approximately four times the height of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Unlike many other volcanoes that remain dormant for years before they erupt, Etna remains in an almost constant state of unrest. Mount Etna is a type of a stratovolcano, which is a conical style volcano. According to the British Geological Survey, stratovolcanoes are formed from viscous lava that does not flow easily and instead, deposits around the vent, adding to the slope structure. Around 60% of the earth's individual volcanoes are stratovolcanoes. Mount Etna usually erupts in either effusive or strombolian style. An effusive way of volcanic eruption is characterised by the outpour of lava onto the ground, while strombolian activity is more explosive. History of Mount Etna's eruptions According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Mount Etna's eruptive activity started around 500,000 years ago. Etna has erupted dangerously on multiple occasions. According to the Italian government's Civil Protection Department, the largest eruption of Etna occurred in 1669. The volcanic eruption began on March 11, 1669, and lava flow reached the city of Catania on April 16. It reportedly destroyed a large part of the town before flowing into the sea. According to a research paper published in 2007, the earliest historical reference of Etna's eruption is from around 1400 B.C. In the recent past, notable eruptive activity at Mount Etna was seen on multiple occasions in 2024. In July and August 2024, the Catania airport was temporarily shut after Etna erupted. A report by the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network noted intense eruptive activity on Etna in 2001, when the main eruption lasted for around 24 days over July and August. In 1983, artificial methods like earthen barriers were used to divert the lava flow from Etna during an eruption.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Urgent advice for anyone going to Greece, Turkey or Italy after earthquakes
Urgent advice for anyone going to Greece, Turkey or Italy after earthquakes Experts have explained what you need to know about current delays, cancellations and travel rules A cloud of ash and gas rise about ten kilometers above the summit craters, as Volcano Etna erupts again Travel experts have issued urgent advice for anyone heading to the Mediterranean this summer after earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. An earthquake hit the Greek island of Rhodes on Tuesday morning and a second hit the Turkish resort or Marmaris shortly after, leaving a 14-year-old girl dead and dozens of people injured. The earthquakes came hours after the volcano Mount Etna in Italy erupted. Etna, Europe's most active volcano, began spewing ash early in the day on Monday, temporarily disrupting air traffic at Catania Airport, and sending locals and tourists running for safety. Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket said: 'Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can leave holidaymakers facing increased delays, travel disruption and cancellations. Travellers who are affected should check their travel insurance policy documents to see if they are eligible for compensation. 'Travel insurance policies that include natural disaster cover will generally cover you for cancelled accommodation, travel and activities, as well as emergency medical care and evacuation should you need it. 'Under UK and EU regulations, airlines are not required to compensate you for delayed or cancelled flights in 'extraordinary circumstances', which include natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis. If your flight, however, is delayed because of this, your airline has an obligation to offer food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of your delay.' 'If extreme conditions are forecasted before you book or leave for your trip, and you choose to travel regardless, your insurance provider may not cover you for any related problems. Article continues below 'Buying your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip can ensure you are protected against the unexpected. Check your policy terms before buying your insurance, as some travel insurance providers may not cover you as standard in the event of a natural disaster. 'Be aware that if your policy includes natural disaster cover, this will only be paid out if the FCDO warns against anything other than essential travel. If your plans are impacted by a disaster, contact your insurance and airline as soon as you can.' In Italy, Catania Airport is now open, but 20% of arriving flights are facing delays. Article continues below Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor, said: 'Natural events like volcanic eruptions can be unpredictable, but they don't have to ruin your travel plans. The June 2 Mount Etna eruption has understandably caused concern, but the good news is that Sicily remains open and safe for travel. "So, there's no reason for Brits to cancel their Sicily holidays. Airspace is open, and the Mount Etna activity, while newsworthy, is being managed by Italian aviation authorities with high precision. Our analysis of flight data shows that while 20% of Catania flights are delayed, there are no cancellations, and that's critical for UK passengers planning summer getaways. "The key takeaway here is: don't cancel, just prepare. I always tell travellers to treat nature like you treat traffic—plan for a bump in the road, but don't abandon the journey. Book flexible tickets, arrive early at the airport, and keep an eye on real-time updates from the INGV and Catania Airport. Also, remember that even if compensation under EU261 may not apply due to the nature of the disruption, your right to meals, hotel stays, and alternative travel options still stands. Don't let uncertainty catch you off guard; if you're prepared, you'll travel with peace of mind. "Last but not least, here's a pro tip: check if your travel insurance covers natural disasters. It's a small detail most people miss, but it can make a big difference if your plans change last-minute.'
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
‘Spectacular' but ‘harmless' Mount Etna eruption sends tourists scrambling
Spectacular clouds of ashy smoke filled the sky above Sicily in southern Italy after Mount Etna erupted, sending some tourists scrambling down the volcano — though authorities said there was no safety risk. Around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, surveillance cameras captured a pyroclastic flow — defined by the U.S. Geological Survey as a 'chaotic mixture of rock fragments, gas, and ash' that travels quickly and is typically hotter than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit — around Etna's southeast crater, according to the volcanic monitoring team of Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. The eruption was probably caused by 'the collapse of material from the northern flank' of Etna's southeast crater, INGV Vulcani said. It caused lava to flow in three directions — south, east and north — and left behind a fine layer of 'reddish material' that was carried away by winds and dispersed over cities west and northwest of Etna, the institute said. The eruption briefly sparked air travel warnings, with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Toulouse, France, issuing a red alert for 'strong Strombolian activity' at Etna on Monday morning and Catania Airport in Sicily raising its level of alert, according to the Associated Press. The eruption was brief: INGV Vulcani said it had ended by 8:20 p.m. local time. Though the smoke, ash and lava combined to form an ominous picture, the lava flows did not breach a natural containment area 'and posed no danger to the population,' Sicilian President Renato Schifani said, according to the AP. The main area of danger was at Etna's summit, which was closed to visitors at the time for safety, the AP reported, citing Stefano Branca, an INGV official in Catania. Videos posted online showed people running and scrambling down the flank of Etna with the ash clouds in the background — though some instead appeared to get closer to take photos. Etna is a popular hiking destination for tourists visiting the island of Sicily. Etna is Europe's most active volcano, and Monday was its 14th eruptive episode in less than three months. It was 'spectacular' but 'harmless,' Boris Behncke, a volcanologist at the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology's Etna Observatory, wrote on X. Because it was seen by so many people — including visitors who were on the volcano at the time, though far from the eruption zone — it could become 'one of the most famous pyroclastic flows of our time,' he added.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Italy's Mount Etna is erupting again. Stunning photos show the volcano sending ash into the sky and turning into a 'lava fountain.'
Italy's Mount Etna erupted early Monday, causing tourists to flee as it spewed a massive plume of hot volcanic debris into the air. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show people on guided tours running from the eruption. The explosive activity has since moved to a 'lava fountain,' according to the nation's volcano monitoring agency. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Italy said in a translated social media post that a pyroclastic flow, which is a combination of hot ash, rock fragments and gas, was 'probably produced by the collapse of material from the northern side of the Southeast Crater." Located on the eastern coast of Sicily between the cities of Messina and Catania, Mount Etna rises roughly 10,900 feet, making it the tallest active volcano in Europe. Derived from the Greek word 'Aitne,' meaning 'I burn," Mount Etna erupts frequently, though its lava has not come close to nearby towns since the 1800s. Mount Etna is considered one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, and the popular tourist destination is visited by 1.5 million people per year. Etna erupted twice last year, forcing the closure of the Catania Airport due to volcanic ash and low visibility. In 2021 alone, it erupted 11 times within three weeks. Before this week, the most recent notable eruption was on Feb. 11.
