A cloud of smoke and ash produced by the Etna volcano forced the airport of Catania, the most important in Sicily with that of Palermo, to interrupt its traffic this Monday at the start of the afternoon.
“Due to the activity of Etna, the airspace of Catania airport is currently closed to traffic,” Vincenzo Bellini airport in Catania announced on its Facebook page. “No flight will be able to land or take off.”
A lava flow and a plume of smoke
The volcano, whose majestic silhouette dominates eastern Sicily and in particular the port city of Catania, formed a lava flow and a plume of smoke and ash extending over more than 10 km, according to the Civil Protection of Sicily.
Ash fell on the roads, balconies and roofs of several urban centers in the region, including Milo and Acireale, she said. Etna, with an area of 1,250 km2 and culminating at 3,357 meters, is the highest active volcano in Europe, with frequent eruptions for around 500,000 years.