Italy: Eruption at Mount Etna causes flight disruptions at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Catania, Sicily, July 23

Flight disruptions, including delays and cancellations, will likely continue to affect Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) in Catania, Sicily, over the coming hours after volcanic activity at nearby Mount Etna prompted authorities to close the area's airspace July 23. Officials have suspended all incoming and outgoing flights until conditions improve. Airport management personnel have advised travelers to contact their respective airlines for information on flight delays and cancellations. Lingering disruptions are likely to continue after the airport reopens as airlines work to clear the backlog of passengers.

Following gradually increasing levels of volcanic activity July 22, a new explosive eruption occurred at Mount Etna's Voragine crater in the early hours of July 23, producing lava flows and a large ash plume rising to around 8 km (5 miles) above sea level. Ash is being dispersed in an east-southeastward direction and ashfall is likely in Catania and surrounding areas. In response to the volcanic activity, authorities issued the highest red-level Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation at 07:28 July 23.

The eruption of Mount Etna may cause seismic activity, further ashfall, and landslides in the surrounding area over the short term. Disruptions, including ground transport and business operations, are possible in areas subject to significant ashfall or other volcanic emissions. Driving conditions could quickly deteriorate during periods of substantial ashfall as ash can result in poor visibility and, when wet, make roads slippery. Depending on the presence of hazardous volcanic material, officials may close roads near the volcano. Authorities may also issue evacuation orders or impose an exclusion zone around Mount Etna on short notice if volcanic activity levels continue to increase. Fine particulate matter ejected from the volcano could continue to pose a hazard to flights in the surrounding airspace and noticeably worsen local air quality.

Individuals, especially those with underlying pulmonary conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancers, may experience difficulty breathing and suffer lower tolerance to physical exertion than healthier persons during periods of ashfall. Officials may advise such individuals to take additional precautions to avoid excessive ash exposure.