Etna eruption forces closure of Sicily's Catania airport

Catania airport in Sicily will not operate until at least 2 a.m. local time on August 14 due to the ongoing eruption of Mount Etna. According to Deutsche Welle, citing the dpa news agency, the closure could last even longer.

Airport operations across Sicily have been seriously disrupted for several days because of the latest eruption of Europe's most active volcano. Hundreds of flights have been affected — some cancelled or delayed, while other aircraft were diverted from Catania to the airport in Palermo, the island's capital, or to the smaller Comiso airport. Passengers have reported overcrowded trains and sharply rising taxi fares as they tried to reach alternative airports.

Disruptions on Malta too

Air travel disruptions have also hit the neighboring island of Malta. Nineteen flights were cancelled there on August 11, followed by three more on August 12, with several other flights delayed, according to the local outlet Times of Malta.

Lava flowing from several vents

Since Friday, August 7, the Sicilian volcano has been spewing large amounts of ash and glowing rock fragments. According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), powerful lava flows are pouring from two vents located at altitudes of 2,360 and 2,750 meters. Two additional lava flows have recently formed.

Etna is Europe's most active volcano, erupting several times a year. Its previous period of activity occurred in early July, when flights in Sicily were also cancelled.