Catania – Mount Etna erupted again on the morning of July 5. Shortly after 7:30 a.m., the Voragine crater began spewing ash. By about 8:45 a.m., this had developed into a massive eruption column—rising about 1.5 kilometers above the volcano’s summit. The wind carried the cloud south and southeast.
Catania Airport: All Arrivals Suspended
According to a statement from SAC, the operator of Catania Airport, airspace in the southern area of the volcano—Sector B2—was closed until 7:00 p.m. local time. All incoming flights were suspended. However, departures of aircraft already on the ground remained permitted. The SAC urged travelers to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before heading to the airport.
High-Level Volcanic Tremors — Lava Has Come to a Standstill
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Osservatorio Etneo, reported that the average amplitude of volcanic tremor remains at a high level and shows a continuing upward trend. The highest value recorded so far during this eruptive episode was registered this morning at 8:30 a.m. The tremor source is located in the area of the Voragine Crater, about 3,000 meters above sea level. Weak activity has also recently been observed at the northeast crater.
At the same time, the situation with the lava flows has calmed down somewhat: The vent at an elevation of about 3,030 meters had been active since June 26 but ceased erupting on July 4. A second, smaller lava flow, which began during the night of July 2–3, came to a halt on the morning of July 3 after traveling less than 100 meters.
Forecast models indicate that the ash cloud will continue to move southward in the coming hours. The INGV is monitoring the situation continuously. Travelers and residents are asked to rely solely on official information.
