In Sicily, Etna volcano once again spewed spectacular fire and ash. As a result, Catania airport was closed on Friday morning. It was said that the runway was contaminated with volcanic ash and therefore closed.
Many flights were diverted to other airports in Sicily, causing a lot of inconvenience for many holidaymakers. Catania Airport will not be operational until Friday afternoon, it was said. Passengers were asked not to come to the airport.
There were also problems in the city of Catania due to the ash fall. Two-wheelers are not allowed to drive on Friday and the speed limit for vehicles has been reduced to 30 kilometers per hour.
Etna, located in the east of the island, has erupted repeatedly in recent months. The eruptions are generally not dangerous for people living around the 3,300-meter-high mountain. The area around the volcano is a nature park and popular with many tourists. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013.
Explosion and ash column at Stromboli
But Sicily also has problems with the Stromboli volcano. On Thursday afternoon there was an explosion and the lava flowed more and more into the sea (see video below). A column of ash then rose to a height of about two kilometers.
The Civil Protection has decided to change the alert level from orange to red. The increase in the alert level means strengthening the volcano monitoring system and the exchange of information between the Civil Protection Service’s facilities, according to a statement.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) had previously detected a sudden increase in seismic activity. Authorities called on the population to monitor the situation and to strictly follow the instructions of the civil defense.
Ferries are not allowed to dock on the island
The landing of ferries carrying tourists and excursionists from Sicily, Calabria and the other islands that, like Stromboli, belong to the Aeolian Archipelago, was prohibited for safety reasons.
A fire brigade and a delegation from the civil protection arrived from Sicily to monitor the situation. There is no reason to panic, the authorities stressed. No information was available about damage or injuries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
