Catania Airport in Sicily has been forced to cancel all flights to and from the airport until 8:00 pm (18:00 GMT) due to the eruption of Mount Etna. The volcanic activity has caused the dispersion of volcanic ash into the airspace, rendering air travel unsafe and prompting the suspension of air traffic. This suspension comes after an initial announcement earlier in the day that flights would be halted until 11:00 GMT, reported Al-Rai Daily.
Catania Airport’s management company released a statement on their website explaining that the suspension of air traffic was a necessary precaution in response to the volcanic ash from Mount Etna’s eruption.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Catania, Enrico Tarantino, has taken proactive measures to address the impact of the volcanic ash on the city. A municipal decree has been issued, restricting the movement of bicycles and motorcycles for the next 48 hours.
Mount Etna, standing at an impressive 3,324 meters, holds the distinction of being the highest active volcano in Europe.
In a separate incident, the Italian town of Bardonecchia, located near the French border, faced the wrath of a violent thunderstorm on Sunday night. The storm triggered a devastating landslide and mudslide, wreaking havoc on the town’s infrastructure. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries thus far.
The local firefighting brigade, comprising around 50 firefighters, immediately swung into action to mitigate the impact of the disaster.