Mount Etna Erupts for Fifth Time, Disrupts Flights with Ash Clouds Reaching 20,000 Feet

Aug 4, 2024, 11:17 AM

Mount Etna, Europe's tallest and most active volcano, erupted again on August 4, 2024, marking its fifth eruption in recent weeks after a four-year pause. The eruption sent ash clouds soaring to heights of 20,000 feet and created a lava fountain reaching over 1,000 feet above the crater. The eruption caused significant disruptions at Catania International Airport, leading to the cancellation of five domestic flights and two international flights to Warsaw and Copenhagen. Several flights were diverted to Palermo and Comiso due to volcanic ash and low visibility. The eruption also resulted in intense ash fall in parts of Catania, with ash and lapilli raining down. The activity was visible from a great distance, providing a spectacular display of natural forces. The Voragine crater emitted a massive plume of ash and smoke over Sicily, and the event was captured in a timelapse by Weather Italy - WS Cam.