Mount Etna eruption sees flight warning issued to travellers
Holidaymakers with plans to travel to Italy this week are being advised to check with their holiday provider following a volcanic eruption. Thousands of people are facing flight delays, cancellations after Mount Etna erupted in Sicily on Monday, June 2.
Tourists were seen running for their lives after Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, started erupting at around 4am. Volcano Discovery.com reported that a volcanic tremor was felt before the eruption.
The tremor began at around 10pm on Sunday evening before reaching a peak at 1am on Monday. The tremor was localised at an altitude of 2.8km beneath the crater area.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology issued a statement at 11.03am local time (10.03am BST), on Monday saying: "Over the past few hours, the activity flagged in the previous statement issued at 4.14am (3.14am BST) has carried on with strombolian explosions of growing intensity that, at the moment, are of strong intensity and nearly continuous. Over the past few hours, the falling of a little thin ash has been flagged in the Piano Vetore area."
Following the eruption, Sarah Rodrigues, a travel expert with Avanti travel insurance, has outlined practical steps travellers can take to protect themselves and recover any costs.
She said: "Volcanic eruptions can have a huge impact on your holiday plans. If you're due to travel and find your trip will be affected by a natural disaster there are steps you can take to try to change your plans or to get a refund.
'The first thing you should do is contact the holiday provider you booked your trip with to see what support they can give you, as they may be able to provide an alternative, or to refund or reschedule your trip.
'If your holiday provider can't help you reschedule or refund your costs, you should contact your bank. You may be able to recoup your costs through a 'chargeback claim' if you paid using a credit card.
'If you've tried both options without any luck, then you may be able to claim through your holiday insurance . It's important to check your policy documents before cancelling a trip or if you decide not to travel, so check out the 'Travel Delay' section in your policy wording to find out if a natural disaster is covered."
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Travellers who are already on holiday when a disaster occurs are advised to contact their insurance provider.
Sarah added: "If you're already on holiday and your return journey to the UK is delayed or cancelled, speak with your holiday provider for alternative options.
"In this instance, your travel insurance policy should automatically extend to cover the extra time you need to get home.
"However, always check with your insurance provider to be on the safe side.
'You will also need to speak with your holiday provider if your accommodation is affected, as they may be able to find you an alternative place to stay or, if necessary, to bring you home early.
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