Lava ash emission from Etna, a cloud 4 kilometers high

The airspace structure on Etna changes after the red alert for volcanic activity from the summit craters with the emission of a cloud of lava ash 4 kilometers high above sea level.

The Nco, the operational coordination unit that manages air traffic, has ordered the reopening of sector B1 and the simultaneous closure of sector A3, increasing the number of landings per hour from 10 to 12, i.e. the maximum number of arrivals normally allowed at Catania airport. The new provisions, adopted on the basis of the red Vona (Volcano observatory notice for aviation), issued yesterday and confirmed this morning by the Ingv Etna Observatory. The restrictions will remain in force until 12.30 tomorrow.

The latest bulletin from the volcanic ash monitoring center in Toulouse, published today, confirms the red code for aviation and reports a weak ash emission still ongoing. The cloud, described as very thin and rapidly dissipating, is moving southeast at about 18 kilometers per hour. His presence is expected again in the next few hours.