Etna ash cloud forces Catania airport to suspend arrivals, Romanian ministry warns travellers

Ash cloud forces airspace closure

Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano at over 3,300 metres, emitted a dense ash cloud on Sunday, 5 July, leading authorities to close the airspace south of the volcano. The ash emissions began around 05:45 GMT and intensified from 06:45 GMT, generating a column approximately 1.5 kilometres high that drifted southward, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Forecast models indicated the ash would continue dispersing south in the following hours.

Due to eruptive activity and volcanic ash emissions into the atmosphere, the closure of the airspace corresponding to the ash cloud south of the volcano (sector B2) has been ordered.

The closure affected sector B2 of the airspace, directly impacting operations at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, the busiest airport in eastern Sicily. Etna, located on the island of Sicily, is Europe's most active volcano and has repeatedly caused temporary closures of Catania airport due to ash emissions, which pose a danger to aircraft engines.

Flight disruptions at Catania

All incoming flights to Catania were suspended as a result of the airspace restriction. The airport operator, SAC, confirmed that departures of aircraft already on the ground were still permitted. The measure was initially scheduled to remain in place until 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT). Passengers were urged to contact their airlines for updated flight information before travelling to the airport.

Romanian travel advisory

Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) issued a travel warning on Sunday for Romanian citizens in or travelling to Sicily. The advisory recommended avoiding areas affected by ashfall and strictly following local authorities' instructions. The ministry provided consular contact numbers, including the general lines of the Romanian Consulate in Catania (+39095537909 and +39095536139) and an emergency number (+393209653137). Citizens were directed to official websites such as the Italian Civil Protection Department and the Catania airport site for real-time updates.

Eruption timeline

The current ash emission follows a broader eruptive phase that began on 26 June with lava flows. A second, smaller lava flow was detected on the night of 2–3 July, advancing just over 100 metres before stopping. INGV reported that all lava flows had ceased completely by 4 July. The sudden ash emission on 5 July disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers.