🔥 Trending Mount Etna Eruption Causes Flight Cancellations and Disrupts Tourism in Sicily

Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, has recently experienced renewed and intensified eruptive activity ³⁵. As of August 2026, the volcano is in an erupting state, with its alert level currently at yellow ¹⁶.

Recent Eruptive Activity

The Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV) has reported ongoing activity at Etna's summit craters.

• Early August 2026: Eruptive activity continued from January 5-11, characterized by gas emissions and advancing lava flows in the Valle del Bove ².
• Mid-August 2026: A stronger phase of activity occurred at Etna's Voragine Crater (VOR) between August 6-12, continuing an eruptive sequence ⁴. This activity included continuous ash emissions ⁵.
• Ash Plumes: Volcanic ash advisories on August 12 and 14, 2026, indicated ash plumes reaching altitudes of up to 12,000 feet (3,700 meters) and 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) respectively ⁴⁶.

Impact on Catania Airport

The recent eruptions have significantly impacted operations at Catania Airport (Catania-Fontanarossa Airport), a major gateway to Sicily.

• Closures: The airport has suspended operations multiple times due to ashfall from Etna ⁷.
• Extended Closure: As of August 14, 2026, the closure of Catania Airport was extended until at least Saturday ⁹. This disruption occurred in the middle of the vacation season, affecting numerous travelers ⁷.

Mount Etna's Characteristics

Etna is one of the most active and largest volcanoes in Europe.

• Location: It is situated in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania, above the convergent plate margin between the African and Eurasian Plates ¹³.
• Size: Etna stands at approximately 3,369 meters (11,053 feet) above sea level, though its height can change due to eruptive activity and crater rim collapses ¹⁶. It has a base diameter of 35 km and covers an area of 1250 km² ¹.

For real-time updates on Etna's volcanic activity, including live webcams, charts, and weather forecasts, platforms like Etna Alert are available ⁸.