Canada updates travel warning for major European destination

Canadians planning to travel to Italy or already in the country are being urged to be cautious in the latest advisory update from the federal government.

On Monday, Sept. 14, the Government of Canada updated the natural disasters and climate section of its travel advisory for Italy.

"Flights are disrupted in Sicily due to a volcanic ash cloud from the recent eruption of Mount Etna," reads the statement. "Confirm the status of your flight before heading to the airport."

On Monday, Catania International Airport was forced to suspend all flights, according to the Independent. But the shutdown has been extended until Tuesday, with an update on the airport website stating that closures of sectors of the airport have been extended, cancelling all scheduled arrivals and departures.

The recent closure comes after ash fallout forced the airport to shut down for five days in August, its longest emergency closure since 2002. Last month's closure coincided with a busy travel period during Ferragosto, a popular public holiday.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, volcanic ash and gases can be sucked into airplane engines, causing them to malfunction.

Mount Etna is the highest mountain on a Mediterranean island and the most active stratovolcano in the world, according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Flights are frequently diverted or disrupted as a result, impacting thousands of travellers during summer's busy travel season.

Canadians heading abroad can sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA), a free and confidential service that notifies Canadian citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or at home.

You can register for yourself or groups of travellers. And if you're going on a cruise or planning to visit several countries on the same trip, you can also register for multiple countries.

Visit the registration page for more information.