Ash From Etna Volcano Forces Suspension of Flights in Sicily
At its most intense phase, the eruption sent a column of smoke 9.5 kilometers high.
On Thursday, flights were temporarily suspended at Catania Airport, on the Italian island of Sicily, after its runways were covered with ash from an eruption of Mount Etna. At its most intense phase, the eruption sent a column of smoke 9.5 kilometers high.
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The eruption of the most active volcano in Europe also produced a lava flow on Wednesday. The ash it expelled covered both the city of Catania and its airport.
This forced the closure of the airspace and the temporary suspension of arrivals and departures of planes at least until 6:00 PM local time (4:00 PM GMT). Currently, the runways are being cleaned, and flight operations will resume once the infrastructure is in good condition.
As a result of the closure, several planes that were supposed to land in Catania were diverted to Palermo Airport, the capital of Sicily, in the northwestern part of the island, which is currently receiving many tourists during the August vacation period.
Catania Mayor Enrico Trantino banned two-wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles, from circulating in the city for the next 24 hours while the cleaning of ash from public roads continues.
He also limited car traffic to a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour and asked citizens to collect volcanic ash from their properties in small containers and take them to designated collection points.
On July 16, Etna also maintained strong volcanic activity, ejecting a large column of ash 6,000 meters high that also affected nearby towns. On that occasion, a large column of lava about 3,000 meters high emerged from the Voragine crater, the highest point of the volcano.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
