The Foreign Office today issued an alert to holidaymakers going to Italy and warned that an airport has been closed due to safety fears as volcanic ash covered the runways. Officials are concerned at the increased level of at both Etna and Stromboli in Sicily and southern Italy.

Passengers using Sicily’s busiest airport, Catania, are facing delays and cancellations as a result of Mount Etna’s most recent eruption and the Foreign Office said all flights are suspended. Europe’s highest active volcano has seen increased activity over the past few days, with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Catania saying ash had reached 2.7 miles in height.

In a new update the Foreign Office said today: “Due to volcanic activity, local authorities have increased the alert levels for both Etna and Stromboli in the south of Italy. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the advice of local authorities. See more information on volcanoes.

“Arrivals and departures into Catania airport are suspended with flights cancelled or re-routed to Palermo or Comiso.If you are travelling to or from Catania, check with your travel provider or with Catania airport.”

At least 90 outbound and inbound flights – representing around 15,000 passengers – have been cancelled. They include British Airways to and from London Gatwick and easyJet links with Luton and Bristol. Passengers complained they have been left stranded.

ITA Airways said: “Catania Airport Due to the eruptive activity of Etna and the presence of volcanic ash on the runways, @CTAairport is currently closed and flights are expected to resume at 3:00 PM. Please check the flight status on http://ita-airways.com and the APP before heading to the airport.”

Aeroporto di Catania said: “The runway at Catania Airport is unusable due to volcanic ash fall: both arrivals and departures are suspended. At the moment, flight operations are estimated to resume at 3:00 PM. Do not go to the airport without checking the status of your flight.”

On x James Martin # said: “Thanks @easyJet for cancelling my flight, leaving me stranded in Catania until Monday at the earliest! Or I’ve got to take a bath on a four-hour taxi to Palermo! How can you get away with treating pax like this?”