Overview
- The eruption intensified Sunday morning, producing an ash cloud about 1.5 kilometres above Etna’s summit that moved south and south‑east and raised volcanic tremor, the Italian volcanology institute reported.
- Airport operator SAC suspended arrivals at Catania–Fontanarossa and imposed strict sector closures, leaving the airport heavily restricted and prompting airlines to cancel dozens to more than a hundred flights.
- Many passenger flights were diverted to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso while some military airspace sectors near NAS Sigonella were also affected, forcing long overland journeys for rerouted travelers.
- INGV and meteorological models forecast ash to continue drifting south and south‑east in the short term, and authorities warned of health risks from ash and urged passengers to check flight status before traveling.
- Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano and has shown weeks of strombolian activity and lava flows, so officials say monitoring of tremor and emissions will guide any further airspace or airport measures.