Recently, Italy’s Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli erupted, spewing out hot volcanic ash and lava. Authorities have raised the alert level on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, with the nearby city airports being forced to temporarily shut down on Friday.
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and in recent days, its activity has been intense, lighting up the sky near the city of Catania. Meanwhile, Mount Stromboli on the northern coast of Sicily has been overflowing lava into the sea.
The Italian Civil Protection Agency has issued the highest red alert for Mount Stromboli, warning that the situation could worsen.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci stated that Mount Stromboli is “under surveillance,” adding that authorities are ensuring evacuation plans are ready in case of emergencies.
The fire department has doubled the number of firefighters on the island in advance.
In the city of Catania on the east coast of Sicily, streets and cars have been covered with black volcanic ash, prompting residents and authorities to start the clean-up process. The nearby airport has also been closed.
The airport released a statement on July 5, stating, “Due to the ashfall, the runway at Catania airport is not usable. Aircraft arrivals and take-offs have been suspended.” It further mentioned that airport operations would resume at 3 p.m. local time.