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Travelers heading to Sicily and Stromboli in southern Italy face disruption due to volcanic activity.
Eruptions on Italy’s Mount Etna and the smaller Stromboli volcano spewed hot ash and lava, raising alert levels on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and forcing the temporary closure of Catania airport on Friday.
Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has seen intense activity in recent days, lighting up the sky near the city of Catania, while Stromboli, on Sicily’s northern coast, has poured lava into the sea. The eruption is only affecting Sicily and nearby islands.
The Italian civil protection agency issued its maximum red alert for Stromboli, warning that the situation could deteriorate. UNESCO World Heritage Site and island off the north coast of Sicily, Stromboli attracts tourists for its volcanoes and beaches. The island has struggled excessive tourism in recent years, an average of 2,000 visitors arrive by boat at the island’s only pier every afternoon.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said Stromboli was “under surveillance”, adding that authorities were ensuring evacuation plans were ready in case of emergency.
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Mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino issued an ordinance on Friday, banning the use of bicycles and motorcycles for 48 hours and setting a speed limit of about 29 kilometers per hour “following the copious fallout of volcanic ash.”
The fire brigade said it had preventively doubled the number of firefighters on the island.
Around Catania, on Sicily’s east coast, residents and authorities mobilized to clear the city after streets and cars were choked with black volcanic ash, while the nearby airport was temporarily closed.
Catania Airport is The busiest airport in Sicily and the 6th busiest airport in Italy, with almost 9 million passengers per year.
“The runway at Catania airport is unusable due to falling volcanic ash. Both arrivals and departures are suspended,” the airport said in a statement. On Friday night in Italy, 69 flights were cancelled, mainly flights from European low-cost airlines EasyJet and Ryanair, according to FlightAware. Twenty-seven percent of departing flights and 31% of arriving flights were delayed.
Many flights were being diverted to Palermo, about a four-hour drive from Catalina, Euronews reported.
At around 4:30 p.m., the airport tweeted on Xformer Twitter, which reopened with limited operations and delays.
Contributors: Angelo Amante; edited by Crispian Balmer and Jason Neely
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Is it safe to travel to Italy? Sicily volcanoes erupt, flights delayed
