Overview
- Renewed ash emissions from Etna’s Voragine crater began early Sunday and intensified around 08:45, sending an eruptive cloud about 1.5 km above the summit that models showed drifting south and southeast.
- The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia recorded increased vibrations linked to gas and magma movement and said the heightened activity could continue for days after an effusive phase ended on July 4.
- Airport operator SAC closed the airspace sector beneath the ash cloud and imposed strict limits on arrivals, cutting inbound flights to five per hour and extending sector closures into the night and early morning.
- Dozens of flights were cancelled or diverted, with at least 23 incoming services rerouted to Palermo where operators assisted passengers and arranged bus transfers back to Catania; travellers were urged to check flight status before going to the airport.
- The episode underscores how short-lived ash emissions can disrupt regional travel and requires ongoing INGV monitoring and aviation advisories to guide further operational decisions and keep aircraft engines safe.