Etna's Ash Tests Southern Italy's Travel Lifeline

Mount Etna's eruption continues to disrupt summer travel across southern Italy, with Sicily's Catania airport closed for a fifth consecutive day, according to France 24. The airport, the island's largest, will remain shut until at least early August 15, stranding hundreds of holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year. Al Jazeera reports that flights will be suspended until at least Saturday afternoon, leaving hundreds more travellers waiting.

The ash cloud has not been confined to Catania. Deutsche Welle reports that the eruption has sent lava and volcanic ash spewing from Europe's largest active volcano, with the fallout reaching Calabria as the ash drifts across the Strait of Messina. The New York Times notes that while Etna erupts often, it usually does not release this much ash, and that tens of thousands of travellers' plans have been disrupted in the past week.