Mount Etna's Eruptions Ground Flights, Strand Travelers in Sicily

Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, continued its powerful eruption overnight, sending fiery lava flows and thick ash plumes into the sky. The activity has severely disrupted air travel over Sicily, with authorities extending restrictions at the region's main airport.

The airport in Catania announced that the ban on departing flights has been extended until 2 a.m. local time on August 15. The measure, initially imposed after eruptions began on August 8, has led to the cancellation of approximately 700 flights, according to Italian news reports.

With the peak holiday season underway, the airport typically handles around 40,000 passengers daily. Hundreds of travelers have been left stranded, scrambling for alternative arrangements. Many have turned to buses to reach their destinations, while others wait in hopes of a resumption of service.

The volcano shows no signs of calming, with lava continuing to flow down its slopes and ash clouds rising high into the atmosphere, posing ongoing risks to aviation safety.