Europe’s largest lively volcano erupts triggering journey mayhem and flight cancellations
The most active volcano in Europe is erupting as the eruption has hurled a vast black plume of volcanic material into the skies triggering flight cancelations and chaos
Mount Etna is erupting again (Image: Etna Walk/AFP via Getty Images)
Europe’s tallest and most active volcano is erupting as flights are being cancelled due to safety fears.
Ash reportedly started rising from Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily at around 7.45am this morning and intensified just before 9am. Mount Etna, holds the title tallest and the most active volcano in Europe. It stands at around 3,400 metres tall and has a base that measures just under 100 miles.
La Sicilia reports: “From 7:45 a.m., ash emissions began from the vent on the upper eastern flank of the Voragine crater, intensifying around 8:45 a.m. until generating an eruptive cloud about 1.5 kilometres high above the volcano’s summit. For safety reasons, incoming flights to Catania-Fontanarossa airport have been suspended, while The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) models indicate that the ash cloud will move toward the southern and south-southeast sectors in the coming hours.”
The INGV has stated emissions began at around 7.45am this morning on the Voragine crater of the volcano.
Rai, the Italian public service broadcaster, said: “In an update on the situation at Etna, SAC, the Catania airport management company, announced that incoming flights have been suspended. Departures of aircraft currently at the airport are permitted.”
Italy’s leading airline ITA Airways has announced that all departing and arriving flights are subject to cancellation or rescheduling. In a statement issued on X, the airline wrote: ” Temporary closure of Catania Fontanarossa airport.
“Due to Mount Etna’s volcanic activity and the presence of volcanic ash in the atmosphere, operations at Catania Fontanarossa Airport have been temporarily suspended.
“Our departing and arriving flights are subject to cancellations and rescheduling.
“Please check your flight status on our website and app before heading to the airport.”
Pictures and videos shared on social media have revealed a massive plume of black smoke and volcanic material pluming up from the top of the erupting volcano.
Volcanic ash is hard and abrasive, and can quickly cause significant wear to propellers and turbocompressor blades, and scratch cockpit windows, impairing visibility.
Previous eruptions have seen planes grounded for days due to the potential flight risk.
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