All flights at one of Italy’s busiest airports have been suspended due to volcanic ash emissions from Mount Etna.
This marks the second recent instance in which Catania International Airport, located on Sicily, has halted operations due to Etna’s emissions.
Airport officials announced that both arrivals and departures, first suspended on Monday, would remain halted until 22:00 (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
The INGV Etneo Observatory issued a red aviation alert on Monday in response to ongoing Etna activity.
In a statement published on Tuesday, Catania, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger volume, confirmed further updates would follow and advised travelers to check with airlines before heading to the airport.
The airport typically handles around 12 million passengers annually and was closed for nearly a week during peak summer last month due to volcanic activity.
Officials have suggested considering a permanent closure of the airport and expanding other Sicilian facilities, given Etna’s proximity.
Mount Etna, standing at 3,324 meters (10,906 feet) above sea level, lies approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the airport.
Despite disruptions, last month’s eruption drew approximately 1.5 million visitors to Etna’s lava flows, underscoring its appeal as a major tourist attraction.