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Mount Etna eruption causes flight disruptions at Catania Airport
Mount Etna is experiencing intense explosive and effusive volcanic activity, causing significant disruptions to air traffic at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV-OE) reports that volcanic tremor levels have reached high values, with seismic activity concentrated between the North-East crater and the Voragine crater.
Recent eruptions have produced ash plumes that disperse toward the southeast, leading to airspace restrictions. As of August 17, 2026, flight arrivals at Catania have been limited to five aircraft per hour due to ash emissions, though departures remain largely unaffected. Earlier in the month, between August 6 and August 12, approximately 36 percent of planned flights for Catania were canceled.
Lava flows are active at multiple altitudes, with vents observed at 2750 and 1990 meters above sea level. The most advanced lava fronts have reached approximately 1395 meters. Strombolian activity has also been recorded at the Voragine crater. The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) has fluctuated between orange and red levels during this period of heightened activity.
Entities
Catania Airport · Catania Fontanarossa Airport · Catania-Fontanarossa Airport · Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia · Mount Etna · Osservatorio Etneo · Protezione Civile · SAC · Sicily · Voragine crater
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Between August 6 and August 12, approximately 36 percent of flights planned for Catania were canceled. www.krone.at · kurier.at
- [● 5 SOURCES] Explosions at the North-East crater produced ash plumes that dispersed toward the south-east. catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · www.etna.news · meridionews.it · www.quotidiano.net
- [DISPUTED] Volcanic tremor amplitude has increased to high levels. www.krone.at · catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · www.notizie.it · tp24.it · +13 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The most advanced lava flows have reached an altitude of 1395 meters. www.krone.at · catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · www.etna.news · meridionews.it · +3 more
- [DISPUTED] The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) level is currently orange. www.krone.at · tp24.it · www.freepressonline.it · metrotoday.it · qds.it · +6 more
- [● 24 SOURCES] The Etna volcano is experiencing intense explosive and effusive activity. www.krone.at · catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · www.notizie.it · tp24.it · +18 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Lava flows are emerging from vents at altitudes of 2750 and 1990 meters above sea level. www.krone.at · catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · www.etna.news · meridionews.it · +4 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Strombolian activity has resumed at the Voragine crater. catania.liveuniversity.it · www.ragusah24.it · tp24.it · www.etna.news · metrotoday.it · +3 more