Italy’s Etna erupted overnight, spewing hot ash and lava into the air, disrupting air traffic to the Italian island of Sicily and forcing Catania International Airport to remain closed on Thursday.
The smoke from the eruption is affecting pilots’ visibility, causing delays to arrivals and departures on one of the busiest travel days. Flights are expected to resume at 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, although the airport has advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
The travel difficulties disrupt one of Italy’s biggest national holidays, Ferragosto, which marks the height of summer.
Located on the east coast of Sicily, Etna is approximately 10,900 feet high, making it the highest active volcano in Europe. Derived from the Greek word “Aitne“, meaning “I burn”, Etna erupts regularly, although the lava has not come close to nearby towns since the 19th century.
Etna has erupted six times since July, with the last eruption this week on August 4.
