Rome: Mount Etna erupted overnight causing the nearby airport at Catania on Sicily’s eastern coast to close, the Italian Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) reported on Thursday.
The volcano spewed a huge plume of ash and lava gases up to a height of 9,500 metres. The Catania airport authorities announced that they had shut down operations until 6pm (1600 GMT).
They reported that ash particles had covered planes and the runways, rendering them unusable. Normal services would resume once the infrastructure was operable again, they said.
“Passengers are asked not to go to the airport before enquiring about the status of their flight,” the airport said, adding that considerable delays could be expected.
Dark grey dust covered houses and streets around Catania.
Etna, which reaches to a height of around 3,350 metres, is Europe’s largest active volcano. (DPA)
