Etna eruption cancels flights twice for traveler

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is once again disrupting life on the Italian island of Sicily. The volcano, located near the city of Catania, began erupting on Thursday, sending ash plumes high into the sky and forcing the closure of Catania Airport.

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There Etna is next door puffing smoke into the air.

The eruption, which started from a fissure at the summit, produced lava flows that continued for several days before subsiding on Sunday. However, ash emissions persist, with a cloud rising more than a kilometer above the summit, reaching an altitude of approximately 4.5 kilometers.

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It's not the first time Etna has erupted, but it's quite rare for authorities to close the airport.

Local resident Mikko Rautiainen, living in Ragusa about an hour's drive from Catania, noted that while Etna erupts frequently, airport closures are less common. He described the air as clear of volcanic smell at ground level, with the distinct sulfurous odor only noticeable at higher altitudes.

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We were supposed to fly out of Sicily on Sunday originally, but we received information early in the afternoon that our flight from Catania to London was canceled.

Meanwhile, tourists Pietari Uusitalo and his girlfriend, who were vacationing near Taormina, have experienced significant travel disruptions. Their return flight to London, initially scheduled for Sunday, was canceled, and a rescheduled flight for Monday also met the same fate. They are now awaiting a flight on Wednesday evening, with their holiday plans significantly altered by the volcanic activity.

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Replacement flights were moved to today, but now they have also been canceled, and the next flight is not until Wednesday evening.