Mount Etna releases smoke as seen from a P-8A Poseidon aircraft near Sigonella, Italy, Feb. 6, 2021. A fresh eruption at Etna's Voragine crater has sent ash drifting over eastern Sicily this month, repeatedly forcing Catania Airport to suspend arriving flights. (Austin Ingram/U.S. Navy)
NAPLES, Italy — Operations were continuing at a key Navy hub on the island of Sicily as one of Italy’s most active volcanoes spewed ash into the air, forcing the closure of at least one nearby civilian airport.
Flight and other operations at Naval Air Station Sigonella continued with minimal disruption following Mount Etna’s eruption, which began last week, the base said in a statement Wednesday.
NAS Sigonella was adhering to all applicable air zone regulations and safety restrictions and coordinating with Italian aviation authorities and other agencies “to ensure daily flight operations are fully aligned with safety parameters,” the base said.
Personnel were using sweeper trucks to clear ash deposits from base runways, hangars and flight lines.
Fire and emergency services personnel were on standby and monitoring conditions, while the base’s public works department was watching for infrastructure requiring maintenance, according to the statement.
On Wednesday, officials said flights in the city of Catania would remain suspended until at least 4 p.m. Thursday, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
The airport is about 11 miles northeast of NAS Sigonella.
Around 700 flights at the airport were disrupted Aug. 8-11, including about 400 departing flights that were canceled. Another 52 were canceled Wednesday, according to ANSA.
On Tuesday, the base told community members to expect travel delays at Catania airport and warned drivers to reduce their speed on roads that could be slick with ash.
It also advised against wiping ash from car windshields or windows with a dry cloth or shirt, saying doing so could scratch the glass. Instead, windshields and wipers should be rinsed with water, the base said in a Facebook post.
The base also advised against strenuous outdoor activities, such as running, and suggested that people wear a mask or place a wet cloth over their nose and mouth when outdoors, among other health precautions.
Operations at Sigonella include Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, an MQ-4C Triton drone detachment and a Space Force contingent.
The base is the Navy’s second-largest security command, behind only Naval Support Activity Bahrain in the Middle East, according to the service.
STARS AND STRIPES VIDEOS
AROUND THE WEB
STRIPES TOP NEWS
