Etna's ash shuts Catania airport for fifth day, stranding summer travellers

Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity has closed Catania's airport, Sicily's largest, for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year, France 24 reported. The airport will remain closed until early August 15, with flights suspended until at least Saturday afternoon, according to Al Jazeera.

The eruption, which continues to spew lava and volcanic ash, has disrupted travel across the island during the peak Ferragosto holiday period, Deutsche Welle reported. Experts note that while Etna erupts often, it usually does not release this much ash, the New York Times reported, with tens of thousands of travellers' plans disrupted in the past week.

The closures have forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights, leaving passengers to scramble for alternative routes via other southern Italian airports or ferries to the mainland.