Mount Etna Ash Forces Catania Airport Closure for Second Time in Months Amid Natural Disasters
Multiple volcanoes around the world remain active, with Mount Etna in Italy forcing the suspension of all flights at Catania International Airport due to ash emissions, while Indonesia's Mount Semeru and several other Indonesian volcanoes continue to generate seismic activity and ash plumes amid natural disasters.
Flight Disruptions at Catania Airport from Mount Etna Ash
All flights at Catania International Airport in Sicily were suspended until 22:00 on Tuesday after Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano, released ash. [1] This is the second closure in recent months and follows a week-long shutdown in August. [1] Airport officials said arrivals and departures, which were first halted on Monday, would be suspended until 22:00 (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday. [1] Ongoing activity at Etna prompted the INGV Etneo Observatory to issue a red aviation alert on Monday. [1] In a statement on its website on Tuesday, Catania said further updates would follow. [1] It also advised passengers due to fly from Catania to check with their airline for updates before travelling to the airport. [1] Catania, which usually serves about 12 million passengers each year, was closed for almost a week during the peak summer season last month because of volcanic activity. [1]
Mount Etna's Status and Regional Context
Mount Etna is Europe's tallest active volcano and erupts frequently. [1] The volcano, which stands at 3,324 metres (10,906ft), is about 40km (25 miles) away from the airport. [1] There have been calls for the airport to shut and other facilities in Sicily to be expanded because of its proximity to Etna. [1] Despite air traffic disruption, August's eruption drew large crowds of onlookers to Etna's lava flows. [1] About 1.5 million people visit Etna every year. [1]
Mount Etna ash emissions force closure of Catania International Airport in Sicily. — Source: gdelt
Activity at Indonesia's Mount Semeru
Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted three times, sending ash 1,000 meters above its summit, and remains at Level III alert, the second-highest warning level. [2] Mount Semeru in Indonesia produced 26 eruption earthquakes, seven rockfall events, and five gas emissions on 13 September, with recommendations against activity within 13 km along the Besuk Kobokan river and 5 km from the summit. [4] Gunung Anak Krakatau recorded multiple low-frequency earthquakes and continuous tremor on 13 September, with authorities maintaining a 3 km exclusion zone around its active crater. [4]
Mud Volcanoes in Ukraine
Грязевые вулканы, из которых на поверхность выходят грязь и газ, формально не относятся к настоящим вулканам, объясняют геологи. [3] В Украине есть как древние потухшие вулканы, так и грязевые вулканические образования, которые и сегодня могут проявлять активность. [3] По словам Александра Митрохина, в Украине есть только потухшие вулканы, которые прекратили свою активность задолго до появления человека. [3] Самые молодые из них расположены в Закарпатье – в районе Вулканического хребта. [3] От Ужгорода до Хуста простирается примерно 100-километровая вулканическая гряда. [3] Также известен Кара-даг в Крыму, а самыми древними являются отдельные вулканические структуры на Украинском щите. [3] Вулканом считается природное образование, которое сейчас или в прошлом извергало лаву или другие продукты вулканической деятельности. [3] Грязевые вулканы внешне могут напоминать настоящие вулканы, там образуется такая сопка, но это не вулканический процесс. [3] Отдельное чудо – грязевые вулканы на Керченском полуострове, которые действуют и сегодня. [3] В Украине, по нашим подсчетам, может быть более 100 грязевых вулканов, если учитывать как действующие, так и те, что прекратили активность. [3] Грязевые вулканы формируются в осадочной оболочке Земли, тогда как настоящие связаны с магматическими процессами и высокими температурами. [3] После землетрясений в районе Румынии и Карпат активность вулканов усиливалась. [3] Старуню в Ивано-Франковской области порой называют "единственным активным вулканом Украины". [3] Этот объект также имеет осадочное происхождение, то есть является грязевым вулканом. [3]
Safety Measures and Ongoing Monitoring for Natural Disasters
Other Indonesian volcanoes including Merapi, Lewotobi Laki-laki, and Sinabung showed ongoing seismic activity such as rockfalls, hybrid earthquakes, and ash plumes, prompting exclusion zones, lahar warnings, and mask advisories for residents. [4] Gunung Anak Krakatau recorded multiple low-frequency earthquakes and continuous tremor on 13 September, with authorities maintaining a 3 km exclusion zone around its active crater. [4] Mount Semeru in Indonesia produced 26 eruption earthquakes, seven rockfall events, and five gas emissions on 13 September, with recommendations against activity within 13 km along the Besuk Kobokan river and 5 km from the summit. [4] Ongoing activity at Etna prompted the INGV Etneo Observatory to issue a red aviation alert on Monday. [1] Catania International Airport advised passengers due to fly from Catania to check with their airline for updates before travelling to the airport. [1] Masyarakat/pengunjung/wisatawan/pendaki tidak mendekati G. Anak Krakatau atau beraktivitas dalam radius 3 km dari kawah aktif. [4] Masyarakat di sekitar G. Lewotobi Laki-laki dan pengunjung/wisatawan tidak melakukan aktivitas apapun dalam radius 5 Km dari pusat erupsi G. Lewotobi Laki-laki. [4] Masyarakat agar mengantisipasi gangguan akibat abu vulkanik dari erupsi Gunung Merapi serta mewaspadai bahaya lahar terutama saat terjadi hujan di seputar G. Merapi. [4] Masyarakat dan pengunjung/wisatawan agar tidak melakukan aktivitas pada desa-desa yang sudah direlokasi, serta lokasi di dalam radius radial 3 km dari puncak G.Sinabung. [4] Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi akan selalu berkoordinasi dengan BPBD Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur dan Satlak PB setempat dalam memberikan informasi tentang kegiatan G. Lewotobi Laki-laki. [4]
What to watch next: Further updates from Catania airport are expected to follow the suspension until 22:00 on Tuesday, while Indonesian authorities continue monitoring Level III alerts at Mount Semeru and exclusion zones at multiple sites.
