Catania airport on the Italian island of Sicily has suspended all departures and arrivals on Monday 14 August, until 13.00, due to the eruption of the nearby Mount Etna volcano.

The eruption has sent an ash cloud into the air across the southeast of Sicily, with lava flowing from a south-east crater of the volcano at a height of 2,800 metres, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

Air passengers due to travel through Catania today are advised not to make their way to the airport until after consulting their airline.