Two erupting volcanoes in Italy have caused holiday chaos this summer – and visitors are warned to keep track of the most up-to-date information.
Italians have lived alongside two of Sicily’s volcanoes – Etna and Stromboli – for centuries and they are well accustomed to living in their fallout zones.
But for tourists hoping to fly in, the volcanoes’ activity can cause mayhem as flights are delayed or diverted and holidays interrupted as a result.
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano – and it erupted in the early hours of Sunday, August 4.
Thick layers of ash then forced the nearby Catania airport to limit the number of inbound flights to six per hour and close an entire section of the hub on Sunday morning, reports The Local IT. All restrictions were lifted by late Sunday afternoon.
Airport management, however, warned passengers of possible knock-on delays and cancellations as a result of previous measures.
The Stromboli volcano is located on a tiny volcanic island in the Aeolian archipelago, off the northern coast of Sicily.
This huge landmark has also been active this summer, erupting for the first time since 2022 on Friday, July 5 and then again on Thursday, July 11.
Authorities asked tourists temporarily leave the island’s beaches as a result.
Airport closures due to volcanic activity are not uncommon in Sicily and Catania’s Vincenzo Bellini airport has completely halted or reduced flights multiple times this summer due to clouds of ash in its airspace.
This airport is the most likely to be affected by closures than others in the region and are usually diverted to Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino airport or Trapani’s Vincenzo Florio.
Trains and buses can also be halted due to poor visibility from ashfall. Rainfall can also cause slippery conditions on the roads near the volcano. Poor air quality can be a risk for individuals with chronic breathing issues such as asthma or COPD.
Holidaymakers are being alerted to the fact that there are several active volcanoes in southern Italy at present. As a result, national emergency plans have been updated for Vesuvius and the Phlegraean fields. According to the Foreign Office, this is an area that remains active and experienced tremors in 2024.
The travel advice, which also applies to Vatican City, warns: “Due to volcanic activity, local authorities have increased the alert levels for both Etna and Stromboli in the south of Italy. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the advice of local authorities.”
