Mount Etna eruption blankets Catania in ash, travel resumes

On Tuesday evening, after hours of suspended flights due to activity at Mount Etna and runways being covered in ash, the airport in Catania, Sicily, resumed operations.

Catania, a popular holiday destination that attracts thousands of tourists from around the world daily during the peak summer season, once again had to deal with the consequences of increased activity from Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. A cloud of volcanic ash, which rose as high as 8 kilometres, was visibly noticeable.

The city was covered in a thick layer of ash. Many people, fearing the ash, walked around Catania with umbrellas, while others covered their heads with newspapers.

A major cleanup began. Ash had settled on the runways and airplanes, and it was necessary to remove it. Repeated flight cancellations and diverting some flights to other airports on the island caused significant delays.

Mayor Enrico Trantino issued a decree banning the movement of two-wheeled vehicles on all city streets for two days and restricting the allowed speed of cars to 30 kilometres per hour.

Trantino also ordered that residents place volcanic ash cleaned from their properties and balconies in containers or bags and set them in front of their homes. Municipal services will collect these.

With public health in mind, sweeping streets and squares and their thorough cleaning takes place at night. This operation will continue until Friday.