The unexpected eruption of the Etna volcano once again caused a stir on the European island of Sicily, popular with tourists. The disaster led to the closure of the airport in Catania and the plight of holidaymakers stranded in the Italian resort last Monday. Information about this was published by the British publication The Sun.
It was clarified that the Sicilian airport of Catania, which plays the role of a key point in the country’s tourist infrastructure, was forced to suspend all flights due to the increased activity of Etna – an active volcano, 3,324 meters high, which keeps the whole of Europe in fear.
Etna’s spectacular activity has led to dramatic events on the island’s tourist routes. After the eruption of volcanic activity and the spread of ash over the eastern part of the island, the airport of Catania stopped serving passengers from 2:38 a.m. local time. “Due to the eruption of Etna, all departures and arrivals are canceled until 1:00 p.m. local time,” the airport’s press service said on a personal social media account.
Mount Etna is one of the highest dormant volcanoes in Europe. It has long attracted the attention of scientists and tourists with its unpredictable activity. Flashes of eruptions that this moment reminds of the power and defiance of natural forces. In past years, Etna’s volcanic activity also hindered tourism. It is known that the intensity of its emissions can vary from small values to more significant explosions. This volcano has had major eruptions in the past, including emissions of ash, lava, and gases. Unfortunately, they often threaten the lives of tourists and locals and lead to the destruction of the surrounding areas.
Despite this, Catania Airport continues to function as one of Europe’s main airports for tourists. To understand the airport’s demand: about 10 million people visited it the previous year. The specificity of the point of departure/landing is that it provides air connections to the eastern part of Sicily and also offers more than 200 flights per day, especially active in the summer season.
The situation with the volcanic eruption has been reflected in the schedules of many airlines this week, including major carriers such as British Airways4, EasyJet, and Ryanair, all of which have canceled or postponed their flights due to the difficult and dangerous conditions on the island.
“We are sorry that your flight is delayed. This is because volcanic activity in Catania has led to restrictions on areas where aircraft are allowed to fly. Your safety and that of our crew is our highest priority, and we thank you for your patience,” tourists received from one of the airlines, others sent similar letters. When the volcano is active, vacationers have no choice but to accept their plight and wait.
This mustn’t be the first time that the Catania airport has been forced to stop the operation of the airport due to unforeseen circumstances this season. So, last month, the airport was closed for several days due to a fire in the transport hub. In addition, Palermo airport was also temporarily closed due to wildfires approaching the runway. During the fire fighting, all departures/landings of airliners were cancelled.