Italy: Eruption of Mount Etna causes flight disruptions at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Catania, Sicily, July 4

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 partially close the area's airspace on July 4. Officials have "ordered the closure of airspace sector B2" in connection with the eruption and capped flights arriving at CTA to five per hour. Flight departures, according to the same authorities, "will be handled accordingly." Airport management personnel have advised travelers to contact their respective airlines for information on flight delays and cancellations.

Mount Etna has reportedly emitted a large plume of ash high into the surrounding atmosphere, and ashfall has been reported in Catania and other areas to the southeast of Mount Etna. Lava fountaining has also been reported from Mount Etna's Voragine crater. In response to the volcanic activity, the Italian Department of Civil Protection has issued a yellow alert (i.e., the third-highest level on a four-tier scale) for Mount Etna; officials will probably review and revise the alert level over the coming hours.

The eruption of Mount Etna may cause seismic activity, further ashfall, and landslides in the surrounding area over the short term. Disruptions, including to ground transport and business operations, are likely 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. Fine particulate matter ejected from the volcano could 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.