Etna highly active, stranding thousands of tourists in Sicily

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is causing major disruptions for thousands of tourists in Sicily amidst the peak travel season. The volcano's ongoing eruption, which began Friday, has blanketed the region in ash, severely impacting air travel.

Catania Airport, located at the foot of Mount Etna, has been forced to cancel or divert more than 200 flights. On Tuesday morning, only a single domestic flight was able to depart. Landings were suspended until 7 p.m. local time, and the highest red alert warning is in effect, indicating an imminent or ongoing eruption with significant ash emission.

The situation has led to chaotic scenes at the airport, with many tourists struggling to find alternative travel arrangements. Flights from other airports and trains leaving the island are reportedly fully booked. An estimated 30,000 people are affected, with many facing extended stays on the island due to fully booked accommodations. Some stranded passengers have complained of overwhelmed airport staff and contradictory information, with one tourist telling La Repubblica, "They left us to our fate."

Adding to the distress, opportunistic businesses are reportedly exploiting the situation. The Italian Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that Etna has been spewing large amounts of ash and incandescent rocks for five consecutive days from two craters. A new fissure also opened at an altitude of approximately 1,900 meters overnight. While such eruptions are common and monitored, the current scale is causing significant hardship for travelers attempting to depart Sicily.

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They left us to our fate.