Is it safe to travel to Sicily after Mount Etna eruption? Latest advice
Sicily's Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupted on the morning of Monday, June 2. Tourists could be seen running down its slopes as huge plumes of smoke rose into the sky. The eruption began at about 4am local time. Describing the release of magma, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said there had been 'strombolian explosions of growing intensity' in the hours after the initial eruption.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse issued a brief 'code red' for aviation due to the eruption. This alert had been downgraded to 'orange' at the time of writing. The local airport, Catania, is operating as normal, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Mount Etna last erupted in May this year, although it has erupted hundreds of times since the first recorded instance in 1500BC.
If you've got a trip to Sicily coming up, here's what you need to know.
Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna is on the east coast of Sicily, a Mediterranean island and region of Italy. Set slightly inland with the city of Catania to the south and popular tourist resort of Taormina to the north, it is the most active stratovolcano in the world, and has been a Unesco world heritage site since 2013.
Yes, but do keep an eye on the latest advice. Flights are currently operating as normal, with some delays reported at Catania airport. Local airspace remains open and the UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel advice following the eruption.
Mount Etna last erupted in May 2025. Eruptions are fairly common, with at least one a year. These generally have minimal impact on local residents and towns, but some have caused significant damage over the years. A major eruption in 1971 buried the Etna Observatory, destroyed orchards and vineyards, and threatened several villages.
• Mount Etna eruption: huge plumes of smoke above volcano
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