CATANIA, SICILY — Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, roared back to life this week with its first eruption of 2025, sending towering plumes of ash into the sky and triggering significant disruptions to air traffic across eastern Sicily on Monday.
The eruption, which began late Sunday night and intensified early Monday morning, produced a series of powerful lava fountains and a continuous flow of molten rock down the southeastern slopes of the volcano.
Italian authorities, including the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), confirmed that ash clouds had reached heights of over 4.5 kilometers (nearly 15,000 feet), prompting a red alert for aviation.
As a precaution, Catania Fontanarossa Airport, one of Sicily’s busiest travel hubs, was forced to temporarily suspend all flights early Monday.
“Runways were coated with a layer of volcanic ash, making conditions unsafe for take-offs and landings,” said airport spokesperson Laura Bianchi. By mid-afternoon, partial operations resumed, but dozens of flights were cancelled or diverted, affecting hundreds of passengers.
Etna, standing 3,329 meters tall, has a long history of eruptions, but Monday’s activity marked one of the most forceful displays in recent years.
Local residents in nearby towns such as Zafferana Etnea and Nicolosi reported tremors and a steady fall of ash that blanketed rooftops, cars, and crops. Schools in several municipalities remained closed as a safety precaution.
Volcanologists from the INGV have been closely monitoring seismic activity around the volcano in recent weeks and had detected an increase in volcanic tremors prior to the eruption.
“This eruption was expected based on recent data, though the intensity exceeded our initial projections,” said Dr. Marco De Luca, a senior volcanologist with INGV.
“The lava flows are primarily confined to uninhabited areas, but the ash fallout is widespread and poses a significant hazard to aviation and respiratory health.”
Local authorities have issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors where possible and to wear masks when outside due to the ash. Emergency services have also been placed on high alert, although no injuries or structural damage have been reported so far.
Mount Etna’s eruptions are both feared and revered by Sicilians. While they present obvious risks, they have also played a crucial role in shaping the island’s rich agricultural landscape. The volcanic soil is renowned for producing some of Italy’s finest wines and citrus fruits.
The INGV stated that the eruption appears to be stabilizing but warned that further explosive activity cannot be ruled out in the coming days. Tourists and hikers have been banned from venturing near the summit craters until further notice.
Mount Etna’s latest eruption serves as a powerful reminder of the region’s volatile geology and the challenges of coexisting with one of the world’s most iconic and unpredictable natural forces.
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