Black Skies Over Sicily: Mount Etna Paralyzes Italian Air Travel (2 Photos + 2 Videos)
Category: Fires and Catastrophes, PEGI 0+
Today, 04:22
Europe's highest and most active volcano seems determined to ruin summer vacations for tourists once and for all. 
An epic eruption of Mount Etna continues in Sicily, forcing Italian authorities to issue a maximum "red" aviation alert for the region and completely shut down local airspace.
Catania International Airport has taken the brunt of the chaos. Towering clouds of volcanic ash and near-zero visibility have completely paralyzed the hub, grounding all incoming and outgoing flights. Making matters worse for travelers, this travel nightmare has been recurring regularly since early July, when Etna officially woke up and began spewing lava from a new crater at an altitude of three kilometers.
While stranded tourists pack the terminals and mob ticket counters, locals are taking to social media to share apocalyptic scenes. Rivers of molten lava are streaming down the slopes, while a heavy blanket of ash has smothered towns at the foot of the mountain.
Streets, parked cars, and resort beaches are buried under a thick layer of black volcanic dust. Catania's cleanup crews are working in overdrive, shoveling ash off the roads, while authorities urge residents to stay indoors unless necessary and wear protective masks outside.
