Etna has disrupted air traffic to the Catania Airport in southern Italy the airport posted Monday morning that the southeast airspace would be closed until 6.30 pm local time (1730GMT) “No restrictions on departures from the airport Passengers are kindly requested to check with the airline for flight status,” it continued Air sectors were also shut down temporarily on Sunday Thirty-two flights have been diverted in the last 24 hours with some airlines canceling domestic and international flights Italian broadcaster Rai News reported Monday morning One of Italy’s most active volcanoes Etna has been showing renewed activity for a week after lava started seeping from a crack on the southern slope of the crater known as Bocca Nuova (New Mouth) is the highest active volcano in continental Europe after a period of relative quiet following a major eruption in December 2023 UNESCO designated the volcano and its surroundings as a World Heritage Site recognizing its geological significance and impact on the local culture and economy Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Ash spewing from Mount Etna is seen from the Italian city of Catania on Monday triggered by Mount Etna's eruption two days ago caused injuries and damage in Eastern Sicily early Wednesday morning The volcano has been spewing ash and lava has flowed down its slopes since it began erupting on Monday The quake registered 4.8 magnitude, according to Italian news agency ANSA, which reported 600 people were displaced by the temblor. Officials said the quake was one of about 1,000 tremors — most of them small — related to Etna's eruption, The Associated Press reports NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that Italy's Civil Protection Agency set up temporary shelters for those whose homes were damaged or who were too frightened to go home and others sought medical care for panic attacks or shock on Wednesday after a quake shook the area before dawn Images of the area showed churches and buildings strewn with rubble On Monday, ANSA reported that a new fracture had opened on Etna's southeast crater Authorities closed down airspace over the airport in the nearby city of Catania and this country of ours is unfortunately fragile," government Undersecretary Vito Crimi said Wednesday Many people reportedly slept in their cars after the quake Mount Etna is the most active stratovolcano in the world, according to the United Nations, which has named it a World Heritage Site. Etna has one of the world's longest documented history of eruptions, stretching back to 1,500 B.C One local resident said the earthquake was worrying "Tremors during eruptions are pretty normal here," Gaetano Maenza told The Guardian "What is unusual is the level of magnitude triggered by Etna located near Naples in a heavily populated region of Italy has also exhibited increased seismic activity recently A previous version of this story classified the earthquake as 4.8 on the Richter scale is no longer in general use and has been replaced by one measuring moment magnitude Become an NPR sponsor KTLA An earthquake triggered by Mount Etna’s eruption jolted eastern Sicily before dawn Wednesday damaging churches and houses on the volcano’s slopes and prompting panicked villagers to flee their homes Italy’s Civil Protection officials said the quake linked to Etna’s volcanic eruption this week Italy’s national seismology institute said the quake had a magnitude of 4.8 on the open-ended Richter scale and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale which relates to the amount the ground slips the largest city in the eastern part of the Mediterranean island but no damage or injuries were reported there The quake opened up cracks in homes in several towns sending chunks of concrete debris tumbling to the ground It toppled a Madonna statue in a church in Santa Venerina and broke up sidewalks and a stretch of highway Many people spent the hours after the quake sleeping in their cars firefighters removed cracked stucco from the bell tower of the damaged Santa Maria della Misericordia church Italy’s culture ministry said the quake damage to churches was being tallied by experts and this country of ours is unfortunately fragile,” government undersecretary Vito Crimi said as he reported 10 people injured The most seriously injured was a 70-year-old man who fractured ribs and was undergoing surgery for chest injuries A 71-year-old patient was being kept in hospital for observation 18 other people went to local hospitals suffering from panic attacks or shock One 80-year-old man was safely extracted from the rubble of his home while a woman told state radio that her sister was pulled out from under a heavy armoire that had toppled and in other homes parts of exterior walls crumbled Some stone walls along fields and local roads crumbled the largest of Italy’s three active volcanoes Etna’s latest eruption has been shooting volcanic ash A new fracture has opened near Etna’s southeast crater and lava has been flowing down an uninhabited slope The quake was also felt in the upscale Sicilian resort town of Taormina and in other towns in eastern Sicily The Civil Protection agency said temporary shelters were being set up in gyms or municipal buildings for people whose houses were damaged or who were too frightened to return to their homes Similar volcanic activity on Etna has been observed many times in past decades a geologist with the state National Council of Research This kind of activity “can last days or weeks,” he said “but it’s unpredictable.” Italy’s Civil Protection chief said it appeared the activity at Etna was calming down we’re dealing with an isolated event,” Angelo Borrelli told Sky TG24 TV “The technical experts tell us we’re heading toward a cooling of the lava and we ought to expect a quiescence of the phenomenon (of earthquakes).” Some residents told reporters that after a similar quake in 1984 which killed a person many on Mount Etna retrofitted their houses to enable them to withstand more powerful temblors Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Trademark and Copyright 2025 The Associated Press Europe's tallest and most active volcano21 March 2024ShareSaveLouis SuppleFeatures correspondentShareSaveBlueplace/Getty ImagesMount Etna towers over much of eastern Sicily (Credit: Blueplace/Getty Images)Most people don't think of snow in Sicily But the Italian island's rumbling peak offers one of the world's most unforgettable skiing experiences Standing at an altitude of 3,000m, I peered down across a glistening expanse of virgin snow blanketing Europe's tallest and most active volcano. It had been snowing for several days, and my guide, Elis Martis, said he'd never seen white stretch so far down Mount Etna's flanks He pointed to our destination far away in the horizon skiing down the volcano at a blistering speed Most people don't picture snow-covered peaks when they think of Sicily But in the highest elevations of the Italian island temperatures plunge and snow falls come wintertime dry winds called the scirocco drift north from the Sahara Desert picking up moisture as they cross the Mediterranean Sea creating a meteorological phenomenon that buries Sicily's mountains with snow Martis described why skiing on the volcano is like nowhere else in the world He explained that due to the proximity to the sea fresh snow here is so moist that it quickly forms a dense load-bearing layer of powdery snow that allows skis to easily glide The white powder alternates with black lava rocks all while clouds of smoke billow from Etna's rumbling crater combined with stunning views of the sea in the distance and incredible Mediterranean cuisine provide an experience beyond description," he said a local skiing enthusiast and the owner of Etna Glo rushed to greet us as we pulled up outside his B&B After serving us a plate of blood oranges from his family orchard Cobo explained that skiing is a long-standing tradition on Etna Cobo said his grandparents went to collect firewood at the base of the mountain on skis so his grandparents would also collect small crates of snow from the woods and store it in cabins over the winter months they returned to the cabins to collect the ice that had formed and used it to preserve food This centuries-old tradition was first introduced by the Romans who ruled Sicily starting in the 3rd Century BCE the island's Arab rulers blended Etna's ice with sugar and citrus fruits to make sherbet a recipe that lives on in the Sicilian specialty granita skiing on Etna as a sport dates to the 1930s when a small group of local endurance athletes began ski mountaineering where you're typically whisked up a mountain on a lift and you then ski down a marked trail ski mountaineering involves either cross-country skiing or climbing up to the summit of the mountain while carrying your skis and then racing back down the mountain through wild terrain on an unmarked trail explained that skiers from all over the world now travel to Etna to ski "Every year we receive more guests from Asia and North America," she said Today, Etna's resorts remain small compared to popular European ski destinations. Etna Sud on the volcano's southern slope has five ski lifts, while Etna Nord on the northern slope has just four. In comparison, Chamonix one of Europe's most popular ski resorts at the base of Mont Blanc "Our guests don't come because we have the most ski runs in Europe they are more attracted by the prospect of skiing on our magnificent volcano and the Mediterranean atmosphere," Cobo said I have primarily skied at resorts for the past decade I've grown to love ski mountaineering I enjoy the satisfaction of climbing a mountain on my own steam and the thrilling payoff of a descent on untouched snow Ski mountaineering allows you to reach remote terrain while letting you enjoy prolonged moments of solitude and a connection with the natural environment I seek out ski mountaineering destinations like Etna that also have interesting culture and history Few people are as familiar with Etna's rarely traversed unmarked slopes as Martis who has guided skiers up and down Etna for more than a decade He recommended we head to the Valle del Bove an immense amphitheatre on Etna's eastern flank hemmed in by 1,000m rock walls whose steep slopes of light powdery snow are perfect for ski mountaineering you can ascend a slope to Etna's summit The views of the volcano crater are spectacular," Martis said Local skiing enthusiast Salvatore Rizzo joined Cobo We drove a short distance from the B&B to where the snowline in the Valle del Bove started We then assembled our ski-touring equipment: thin lightweight skis and synthetic "skins" that attach to the base of the ski and provide grip for skiing uphill although Martis assured us that we wouldn't need to use it As we settled into a meditative rhythm cross-country skiing across the Valle Del Bove Rizzo explained the unique relationship between Etna and the locals that live in its shadow Sometimes she is calm and sometimes she is angry temporarily shutting down the airspace over the island Cobo showed us buildings that were damaged by lava streams in 2013 "Etna is a treasure chest for volcanic scientists because its intense activity allows us to closely study the volcano's inner processes," explained Sarah Booth "This information helps us create more effective tools to monitor the volcano's behaviour." We passed signs of Etna's past blasts as we skied After five hours traversing across the Valle del Bove an awkward-looking manoeuvre that involves skiing diagonally uphill across the slope in one direction and then sharply turning to ski in the other to soften the slope's gradient I took a moment to admire the 360-degree panorama the Ionian Sea and as far away as Calabria on the Italian mainland adjusted the bindings and promptly set off down the volcano in pursuit of Martis in the distance Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. The scientists drilling into an active Icelandic volcanoScientists are preparing to drill into the rock of an Icelandic volcano to learn more about how volcanoes behave. 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For top-tier Sicilian food and romantic design dens scattered throughout the volcanic slopes of this go-slow Soft jazz wafts over a volcanic pool, ice tinkles in glasses of Sicilian gin and tonic and the gentle curve of Etna’s eastern slope towards the Ionian pull eyes over rugged vineyards apricot and clementine trees to where a lush Welcome to one of Sicily’s smartest country hotels – an elevated take on rural simplicity where the morning mist collecting along vines combing the hills the distant church bell and cricket soundtrack all soothe any homegrown malaise blistered walls of the main house – a carefully renovated 17th-century monastery – a blend of antiquity and avant-garde decor (seemingly the baseline in these stretches) plays host to an extraordinary farm-to-fork operation uplit nooks in ancient walls guide well-oiled Europeans and elated New Yorkers home to bed after drawn-out evenings spent drinking the estate’s own wine under the stars Creamy cushioned sun loungers invite a glass of red with organic roasted almonds from the minibar Monaci delle Terre Nere was a farm-to-fork trailblazer aligning closely with the slow food movement from its inception as an agriturismo What is now an abiding theme of most city food scenes was once the preserve of the countryside are still potent reminders of the importance of soil careful farming and climate before the produce even enters the kitchen Locanda Nerello is a masterclass in how to combine this home-spun philosophy with a seriously smart restaurant operation – spread throughout the bygone splendour of the main house where raunchy modern art and neon signs sit alongside faded frescoes and hot-on-it waiters line up silver cutlery and paper-thin wine glasses with mathematical precision Expect photogenic plates such as scabbardfish ragout and tender pork belly smothered in rich sauces The restaurant has its own Etna water menu and a wine menu reflecting Etna’s vineyard status as one-to-watch It’s advisable to book suppers here before arriving as Sicilians come for special occasions (perhaps the ultimate testimonial) Wellness hasn’t been shoved into the spa category at Monaci delle Terre Nere from clocking the fresh herbs hanging in the air on the way to your room to waking up to nourishing homemade juices It’s this all-encompassing approach to wellness that sends guests home feeling refreshed rather than over-indulged Those after some more literal pampering can reward a long walk through the vineyards with a deep tissue or body mind ritual massage from the compact in-room treatment menu Fanning out along Etna’s slopes between Catania’s tired rambling splendour and Taormina’s silver-screen panoramics Monaci delle Terre Nere is well-placed for cultural day jaunts or beach trips is hard to miss – the menacing presence of Mount Etna whose crater is well-worth exploring on organised tours The local town of Zaffarena offers some light browsing and traditional Sicilian eateries though Monaci delle Terre Nere’s acres leave plenty of space to breathe (and guests will be excused for not leaving the gates during their stay) A little patchy in places and slightly stiff in the breakfast room though impeccable in the restaurant where a full white-glove service is rolled out with a refreshingly unpretentious sommelier who makes olive oil in his spare time For families From picking chestnuts in Etna’s crater then roasting them on the fire in Monaci delle Terre Nere’s gardens to egg hunting in the chicken coop activities abound for children on the estate cots on request in the rooms and the proximity to the sea may cater well to young children bar and the serenity underpinning the hotel feels decidedly grown up Monaci delle Terre Nere’s eco-effort is exemplary and permeates almost all elements of the estate Its zero-kilometre food philosophy where guests enjoy produce from the farm bio-architecture and renewable energy infrastructure was all well before its time Guests may soothe their conscience with upcycled sari handbags from the estate’s boutique or reclaimed furnishings and chemical-free paints in the rooms but this mental shift is relatively fresh within the luxury canon Alfio GarozzoAccessibility for those with mobility impairments The hilly nature of the hotel makes it tricky for guests with mobility impairments though golf buggies can be requested for those not able to hike home after eating in the main house Those looking for the privacy of a remote villa (whether it’s noisy children or honeymoon bliss) should avoid the rooms carved out in the old barn It’s worth noting that Monaci delle Terre Nere is one of the few country hotels in Italy to stay open all year – with skiing trips on Etna’s slopes not unheard of (her snowfall is as capricious as her smoky breath) and roaring log fires the perfect accoutrement to the estate’s full-bodied reds This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The faults of Etna represent a triple danger for the populations: they generate earthquakes a carcinogenic gas which can accumulate in houses making them unhealthy was published in the international journal "Frontiers in Public Health" picture 1 – Schematic structural map of Etna with the main urban areas highlighted (in light grey) The small blue circles indicate the radon measurement sites one of the radar meters used to measure indoor radon picture 2 – Fracture of the soil (co-seismic faulting) formed during the earthquake of 26 December 2018 in Fleri The blue arrows schematize the behavior of radon (Rn) which rises more easily from the subsoil to the surface through rock fractures picture 3 – Fracture of the soil at the point where the Pernicana Fault cuts the road linking the towns of Milo and Linguaglossa The photo was taken on the morning of 27 October 2002 a few hours after the start of the lateral eruption which would have destroyed the tourist resort of Piano Provenzana #ingv #etna #frontiersinpublichealth #radon #earthquake The contents published on these pages by theNational Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology are distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  A light magnitude 1.1 earthquake hit 25 km (16 mi) away from Catania, Sicily,  Italy The quake had a very shallow depth of 13.8 km (9 mi) and was too small to be felt by people.