Rome, Sept 27. (dpa/GNA) – Sicily’s Catania airport has been temporarily closed to all air traffic, due to a heavy emission of volcanic ash from Mount Etna.
All take-offs and landings have been suspended until 12 noon (1000 GMT) on Sunday, according to a statement from the airport operator.
Initially, the airport had only been closed until 4pm on Saturday. In addition, a violent thunderstorm during the night had also caused disruption to air traffic.
The volcano on the Italian island is the most active in Europe. Ash is currently emerging from the north-eastern crater and being carried southwards by the wind.
The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the cloud extends 4 kilometres into the sky.
A red alert, the highest of four warning levels for aviation, is currently in effect due to activity at Mount Etna, as was also the case last week and in August.
GNA