Volcanic eruption halts flights over Sicily, Italy

The eruption of Mount Etna has closed all air traffic in Sicily.

Swede Martin Johansson is on the island.

– I spoke to my aunt this morning who was travelling here from Arlanda. But he stopped after his stopover in Vienna, he says.

The volcanic eruption sent huge clouds of ash into the sky, and local authorities have now decided to “suspend all incoming and outgoing flights,” Reuters reported.

This will result in flights being cancelled and diverted to other airports.

Zoom in

“Thick clouds over the volcano”

Martin Johansson, 25, is on the Italian island for work, just a few miles from Etna.

– I spoke to my aunt this morning who was going to fly here from Arlanda. But she stopped after her stopover in Vienna. Now we'll see how she gets off, he says.

But the outbreak does not appear to be that severe, Martin said.

– Right now there are thick clouds over the volcano so you can't see much.

Sicily was hit by a volcanic eruption in early July. A plume of smoke rose five kilometres into the sky.

– It was much stronger. At that time there was ash everywhere in the air and ash rain hit some places. I was in Catania a few days ago and the streets were still covered in soot.

Zoom in