Mount Etna, erupting in Sicily, has recently thrown another blow to the already troubled Catania Airport. The airport has been closed due to a volcanic explosion underway for several days, increasing the region’s transport problems.
Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has a history of periodic eruptions, and its most recent burst of activity has resulted in a large ash plume and lava flows. This natural occurrence has captured the attention of experts and tourists and halted air traffic operations.
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Nature’s Wrath: Catania Airport Shuts Down
Credit: Reuters
According to local authorities, flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Monday due to an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, adding to the crisis-plagued Italian airport’s woes.
The 3,330-metre-high (10,925-foot) volcano erupted overnight, spewing lava and ash high above the Mediterranean island. The lava flow had lessened when daybreak arrived, but ash was still spewing from one of the craters.
Flights to and from Catania, a famous tourist destination, were delayed until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday morning, according to the airport operator, putting an end to hopes that they might restart on Monday night.
Passengers were encouraged to check with airlines before flying on Tuesday.
Credit: Euronews
On Monday, incoming planes were redirected to other Sicilian airports. In Italy, where Tuesday is a public holiday, it marks the height of the summer vacation season. Because numerous streets were covered with ash, Catania Mayor Enrico Tarantino prohibited motorbikes and bicycles from the city for the next 48 hours.
He ordered cars to go no faster than 30 kph (19 mph) owing to the slick circumstances.
The latest cancellations at Catania airport, which receives more passengers than the island’s capital, Palermo, come less than a month after a fire at a terminal building caused weeks of problems for travellers. Etna’s most recent big eruption occurred in 1992.
Credit: Reuters
Where Were Flights Diverted From Catania Airport?
The departures and arrivals boards at Catania Airport revealed that about 95% of flights were cancelled on Monday. However, a few flights continued to arrive or were diverted to other airports in Sicily.
The airports are dispersed because Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. The airports of Catania and Comiso are located on the island’s east coast. The largest airport on the island, Palermo, is located on the west coast. The trip from Catania to Palermo Airport takes four to five hours.
Several flights were diverted to Trapani Airport, a four-hour journey from Catania.
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Mount Etna’s eruption is a striking reminder of nature’s unpredictability and propensity to interrupt modern life. While Sicily attempts to deal with the fallout from this event, attention is being turned to the long-standing challenges at Catania Airport.
It is hoped that the airport’s issues will be turned into a chance for improvement, resulting in more reliable and efficient travel experiences for individuals who pass through its gates in the future.
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