The alert level was raised on the Mediterranean island of Sicily after activity at the 10,905ft volcano increased significantly over the last 24 hours causing disruption to thousands of travellers
Eruptions at the Mount Etna and Stromboli volcanoes in Italy have triggered a “red alert” sparking travel chaos for thousands of tourists.
The alert level was raised on the Mediterranean island of Sicily after activity at the 10,905ft volcano increased significantly over the last 24 hours.
Catania airport, Sicily’s main international airport, sits near Mount Etna, and the increased alert level has seen dozens of flights grounded with an estimated 15,000 passengers affected by the disruption.
Budget airline Ryanair cancelled 42 internal flights in Italy, serving Rome, Venice, Pisa and Bergamo while rival easyJet cut flights to London, Milan and Naples.
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Other flights have seen diversions as far afield as the Sicilian city of Palermo, a four-hour drive from Catania. While the airport remains open, travellers have been warned to expect disruptions to flights for the rest of the day.
The body that monitors Mount Etna, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), said its new red warning meant the situation could deteriorate. It said a ‘gradual increase’ in Strombolian activity in the Voragine crater had been recorded on Wednesday evening.
“The average amplitude of the volcanic tremor, after a gradual increase observed starting from 8pm yesterday, has reached the high level, with an increasing trend,” the INGV added.
The mountain has erupted several times in recent decades with very degrees of ferocity, Italy’s Civil Protection Department warned that the latest activity was not a one-off.
Catania airport was forced to close a few days ago as Etna and Stromboli started spewing hot ash and lava into the skies above Sicily.
The streets of Catania were covered by a blanket of volcanic ash with videos on social media showing cars covered and traffic brought to a crawl.
Tourists have been warned to avoid the areas around the volcanoes and follow government advice on Italian radio and TV. On Monday the UK foreign office, said: “Due to volcanic activity, local authorities have increased the alert levels for both Etna and Stromboli in the south of Italy. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the advice of local authorities.
“Airspace can be affected during eruptions. If you are travelling to or from Catania, during this period of heightened activity, check with your travel provider or with Catania airport.”