03-06-2025
Is it safe to travel to Sicily after Mount Etna eruption?
Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted in a dramatic display in the early hours of Monday morning.
Footage shared widely on social media showed panicked visitors fleeing down one side of the volcano as a huge plume of smoke and ash billowed above them. No injuries were reported.
Flights to and from Catania's Vincenzo Bellini Airport were unaffected, though Sicily's aviation authorities issued an orange alert on Monday urging pilots to exercise caution when flying near the area.
As of Monday evening, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) announced that the volcanic activity had finished.
But does that mean it's safe to visit?
Warning system
The first thing to keep in mind is that Etna's eruptions are nothing new: the first recorded volcanic activity dates all the way back to 1,500 BC.
The volcano has erupted regularly in recent years, with the most recent notable eruption happening in February of this year.
Despite these flare-ups, Etna continues to be a popular destination for tourists, and authorities are well-equipped to deal with eruptions.
The last time an eruption resulted in the loss of human life was 1987, when a woman and her seven-year-old son were caught in a sudden explosion while walking near the volcano's summit with their tour group.
Sicily's President Renato Schifani on Monday said experts had assured him that there was "no danger for the population".
However, local authorities will continue to monitor the situation "with extreme caution," he added.
"Everything's under control," Catania Mayor Enrico Tarantino said, adding that the eruption "was expected, and access to the summit had already been restricted."
Stefano Branca, director of the INGV's Etna Observatory, also told reporters that the "summit area had already been closed preventively and the entire warning system worked".
He was referring to the Civil Protection Department's colour-coded tiered alert system, under which red represents the highest threat level and green the lowest.
Each level triggers different public safety measures, with a red code requiring mandatory evacuations and major access restrictions, and a yellow code meaning people in the vicinity should keep checking for updates and be prepared.
As of Tuesday, the Civil Protection Department's Etna alert level was at a yellow.
Tourists seeking photo opportunities and thrills have in the past defied local ordinances blocking access to certain areas and ignored officials directing traffic and hikers away from danger zones.
It's a given that if you don't follow the rules, you may be putting yourself in danger.
How are flights affected by volcanic activity?
Airport closures due to volcanic activity are not uncommon in Sicily.
Catania's airport, Sicily's busiest airport, is frequently forced to halt or reduce flights due to clouds of ash in its airspace. During the last series of eruptions in February, it was forced to divert dozens of flights.
Given that Catania's airport is closest to the 'epicentre' of volcanic activity, it is far more likely to be affected by closures than others in the region.
Flights to the airport are usually diverted to Palermo's Falcone-Borsellino airport (a four-hour drive away) or Trapani's Vincenzo Florio in the event of closures.
But it is not just air transportation that can be disrupted by the effects of a volcano.
Ground transportation services (trains and buses) can be halted temporarily due to poor visibility from ashfall, especially when coupled with rainfall, which can cause slippery conditions on the roads near the volcano.
Worsening air quality is also a risk for individuals with chronic breathing issues such as asthma or COPD.
During periods of ashfall, officials advise limiting exposure, at least until the air has cleared.
If you are planning to travel to affected areas of the island, you can find up-to-the-minute alerts on volcanic activity from the INGV here.
