The inconveniences continue at Catania-Fontanarossa airport due to the activity of Etna and the ash fallout. After the suspension of flights decided yesterday, Sunday 5 July, SAC – the airport’s management company – has extended the limitations to today’s morning too.
At the moment both arrivals and departures remain at a standstill, with the stop expected until at least 2pm, but further extensions cannot be ruled out, depending on how the situation evolves. However, Comiso airport, in the Ragusa area, is operating regularly. Travelers have been advised to check the status of their flight with the airline beforehand before going to the airport.
The situation is causing many consequences for travellers. Yesterday alone, around 150 flights were canceled or diverted to other regional airports, between Palermo, Comiso and Trapani. Hundreds of passengers found themselves waiting at night for replacement buses to reach Catania.
Etna continues its activity (between spectacle and inconvenience)
After the emission of the large ash cloud 1.5 km high, last night Etna put on a show for the people of Catania and those who live in the hinterland.
As reported by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv), the emissions began on Sunday morning around 5.45 from the mouth located on the high eastern flank of the Voragine crater, intensifying about an hour later. The cloud reached a height of about 1.5 kilometers above the summit and was transported by winds towards the south and south-southeast.
The volcano had already entered a new eruptive phase on 26 June, characterized by Strombolian activity and lava flows in the summit area. The INGV specified that the effusive activity started at the end of June progressively weakened until it ended on July 4th. Furthermore, between 2 and 3 July a second small lava flow was formed, just over one hundred meters long, which stopped on the morning of 3 July.
Sources: SAC/Ingv
