2024-07-05 13:47:17
Local authorities have issued warnings regarding the dangerous activity of the Etna and Stromboli volcanoes.
Travelers who use Catania airport, the largest in Sicily, have a wonderful experience delays and cancellations due to the last eruption of Etna.
The active volcano, the highest in Europe, recorded a significant increase in activity in the past week. Stromboli, on the nearby Aeolian island, could also erupt shortly.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology of Catania has informed that the darkness has increased due to the fire that erupted from Etna height 4.35 kilometers.
As a result, much of the airspace near the volcano was forced cancel passenger flights. This means that the number of entries to Catania airport is much lower than usual: only five per hour.
The airport has announced that normal service will resume at 3.00 local time.
How did the eruption of Etna affect air traffic?
So far, at least 90 round-trip flights have been canceled at Catania airport, which it affected about 15,000 passengers. Ryanair alone was forced to cancel 42 flights, the highest of all airlines.
Easyjet was also affected: “We are sorry that your flight has been cancelled,” they told passengers, “This is due to volcanic activity in CTA [Catania] creating restrictions in the areas where planes are allowed to fly.”
A large number of travelers have arrived diverted flightsand many have come in Palermothe airport that serves the capital of Sicily and is located 4 hours by car from Catania.
Is Etna likely to continue erupting?
The Italian Department of Civil Defense has warned that this is not an isolated incident.
“Italy, together with Iceland, has the highest concentration of it volcanoes assets of Europe and is one of the first countries in the world in terms of the number of inhabitants exposed to volcanic risk,” they said in a statement. “In southern Italy there are active or potentially active volcanoes with varying degrees of danger”.
The Department also advised the local population and tourists to “follow the instructions of the civil defense authorities transmitted on the radio, on television, in the daily press, on the Internet and through the various toll-free numbers that will be enabled.”
They also gave instructions to the population so that they should not, during the eruptions, enter the prohibited areas, since “It is dangerous to approach the crater area even if there is no eruption activity, because sudden explosive phenomena or gas emissions can always occur.”
The mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, also issued an order to his ban the local population from using two-wheeled means of transport for 48 hours. He also set a speed limit of 30 km/h because of the potential danger of driving on ash.
Italy orders red alert for nearby Stromboli volcano in Sicily
Etna is not the only volcano causing problems in Sicily. Late Thursday, the Italian Department of Civil Defense issued a Red alert due to a possible eruption of the nearby Stromboli volcano, raising the potential threat level from moderate to severe.
Stromboli is in one of the Aeolian Islandswhich is located off the northeast of Sicily, and popular tourist destinations mostly in the summer.
The decision was made after the department and local leaders evaluated the “rapid evolution” of the volcano Stromboli.
There are publications of lava pouring into the sea and generate a column of smoke two kilometers high.
In a press release, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported “effective activity” in a fumarole located 700 meters above sea level. The INGV also said that “the seismic signal is still at a very high level” and the authorities warned that the situation could get worse.
ADVERTISINGCivil Defense Minister Nello Musumeci said Stromboli was “under surveillance” and confirmed that emergency evacuation plans and that the number of troops on the island had been doubled as a preventive measure by the fire fighters.
Videos and images from Stromboli showed a huge ash cloud rising above the sea.
On the nearby island of Lipari, the mayor has implemented precautionary measures to protect the inhabitants of the small community.
Stromboli It is a tiny island, only 12 square kilometers and 924 meters high. It is formed at the top of a mostly submerged volcano, but it is one of the most active on the planet.
Although it takes 90 years in almost continuous eruption, is a point of interest for tourists. The INGV says it is one of the few volcanoes in the world with almost continuous activity.
ADVERTISINGThe Stromboli It last erupted in 2022, with no casualties. However, an eruption in 2019 killed a 35-year-old hiker from Messina and forced about 30 tourists to jump into the sea for safety.
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