CATANIA, Sicily (Reuters) -Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were stopped on Monday after an eruption from neighboring Mount Etna, regional authorities stated, bringing fresh travel trouble to the crisis-plagued Italian airport.
The 3,330 metre (10,925 feet) high volcano burst into action over night, shooting lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The lava circulation decreased prior to dawn, however ash was still originating from among the craters.
Flights to and from Catania, a popular traveler location, will stay suspended till 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Tuesday early morning, the airport operator stated in a declaration, rushing hopes they might resume on Monday night.
Travelers were encouraged to contact airline companies prior to heading to the airport on Tuesday.
Inbound flights were diverted to other airports on Sicily on Monday. It is the peak of the summertime holiday in Italy where Tuesday is a public vacation.
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Catania Mayor Enrico Trantino prohibited making use of motorbikes and bikes in the city for the next 48 hours, due to the fact that lots of streets were covered in ash, and bought vehicles to drive no faster than 30 kph (19 miles per hour) due to the skiddy conditions.
The most recent cancellations at Catania airport, which draws in more arrivals than the island's capital, Palermo, came a month after a fire at a terminal structure resulted in weeks of interruptions for guests.
The last significant eruption of Etna remained in 1992.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Keith Weir; Editing by Conor Humphries)
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