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Mount Etna eruption closes Catania airport until the early morning of August 15th.

SAC extends closure of Fontanarossa airport; 630 flights diverted, 36% canceled, and 300 people awaiting transfer.

Mount Etna eruption closes Catania airport until the early morning of August 15th.
Etna eruption closes Catania airport until the early morning of August 15th. Photo: reproduction / Sky TG24.

According to Sky TG24, Sac, the company that manages Catania airport, extended the closure of Fontanarossa until 2:00 AM on August 15th (Italian time) due to eruptive activity from Mount Etna and volcanic ash emissions. Comiso airport was also closed until 4:00 PM after ash covered the runway. Between August 6th and 12th, approximately 630 flights scheduled for Catania were diverted, and of the 1.974 scheduled, about 36% were canceled. At the terminal, approximately 300 people are waiting to be transferred to other airports.

It's the seventh day of disruption. During this period, at least 40 passengers a day pass through Catania, the main air gateway to eastern Sicily, a common destination for Brazilians in August. Many tried to reschedule flights through Palermo, Comiso, Trapani, and Lamezia Terme. The SAC itself speaks of an "exceptional emergency port," the most severe in the last 20 years for airport infrastructure.

A regulation in effect requires those climbing Mount Etna to maintain a minimum distance of 200 meters from the lava flow, after people approached the flow to take selfies. For volcanologist Mario Mattia, from the INGV in Catania, it is a "perfect storm," with constant explosive activity and northerly winds pushing ash over the city.

Read also Strike in Portugal affects flights from Brazil; see how to plan your trip.

Read the original article in Italian at Sky TG24.

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