Mount Etna eruption closes Catania airport: ash cloud disrupts flights
The sudden eruption of Mount Etna on Sunday morning forced the temporary closure of Catania’s airport, Europe’s largest active volcano spewing a 1.5-kilometre-high ash plume that disrupted air traffic across southern Italy. The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported increased activity around 05:45 GMT, with the ash cloud drifting south and south-south-east under prevailing winds. Catania’s airport operator, SAC, announced the closure at 06:45 GMT, initially scheduled to last until 19:00 local time, though operations for departing aircraft already on the ground were maintained. By evening, the airport expected to handle only five arrivals per hour until 21:00 due to the restrictions .
The partial closure of Sicilian airspace over sector B2, south of the volcano, was confirmed by SAC in a statement, citing the ash emissions as the cause. The INGV noted that lava flows observed since late June had ceased by 4 July, but the new ash emission disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers. Forecast models indicated the ash cloud would continue spreading southward in the coming hours, prompting SAC to urge passengers to check with airlines before heading to the airport .
Etna, standing at approximately 3,350 metres, is Europe’s tallest active volcano and a frequent site of eruptions that attract tourists. The current activity follows a period of heightened monitoring after authorities raised the alert level on 26 June following lava expulsions. The renewed ash emission, though sudden, marks the latest in a series of disruptions to regional travel, with authorities emphasising ongoing surveillance of the volcano’s activity .
In contrast, Romania’s national railway operator CFR Călători reported that train services on the Eforie Nord–Eforie Sud line were temporarily suspended earlier on Sunday due to a broken rail. The interruption began at 13:40 local time, with services resuming at 15:14 after emergency repairs stabilised the affected section. Trains are now operating at a reduced speed of 10 km/h in the area, and a definitive repair involving the replacement of a 7-metre rail segment will be scheduled to minimise further disruption. CFR advised passengers to consult updated timetables for potential delays .
The juxtaposition of natural disaster and infrastructure failure underscores the volatility of travel conditions across Europe on Sunday. While Catania’s airport faces prolonged restrictions, Romania’s rail network has swiftly restored partial service, illustrating the varying scales of disruption caused by environmental and technical incidents. Authorities in both countries continue to monitor developments, with Catania’s airport expected to reassess its closure status as the ash cloud disperses.
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