Overview
- Over the weekend the volcano produced dense lava flows from two conduits measured by INGV at roughly 2,360 metres and 2,750 metres and threw a large ash-and-smoke column into the air.
- Catania–Fontanarossa suspended incoming flights and closed airspace where the ash cloud was present, while departures of aircraft already at the terminal were allowed to operate.
- The airport said it downgraded the alert from red to orange later the same day and announced a monitored resumption of operations.
- The eruption disrupted travel for many passengers, with some flights diverted to Palermo and others switching to rail, and nearby towns reported ashfall that coated roads and beaches.
- INGV and national monitoring agencies said they will keep Etna under high vigilance because ash poses an ongoing hazard to aviation and the volcano has frequent eruptive episodes.