A London couple are stranded in Sicily after Mount Etna's eruption sent a massive ash cloud across the island, grounding flights and leaving them scrambling for an alternative route home. Evgenia Filimianova, 39, a journalist, and her husband traveled from Athens to Catania, Sicily, on August 7 to attend a friend's wedding in Taormina. They were among the last passengers allowed to land at Catania Airport before it began closing due to volcanic activity.
Flight Cancelled 30 Minutes Before Departure
The couple, who live in London but are spending August in Athens, arrived at Catania Airport on August 11 for their return flight. Just 30 minutes before departure, the flight was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day. They checked into a nearby hotel, hoping the new flight would depart as planned. However, on August 12, Catania Airport suspended all arrivals and departures due to the ash cloud.
Evgenia described the scene at the airport: "There were loads and loads of people there. There were people sleeping on the floor, families stuck, just lots of people all trying to get out." The couple's seven-year-old daughter remains with relatives in Athens, and they are desperate to get back to her.
No Way Out as Transport Options Dwindle
"It feels like there is no way out," Evgenia said. "The buses and trains are fully booked, the airports are closed, the taxis are too expensive, the hotels are getting booked up. Every option to travel is already taken by someone else." The couple have already spent at least £1,000 on emergency transport and lodging, and they are unsure if their insurance will cover the costs.
Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, has erupted repeatedly during July and August. The latest eruption sent a towering ash plume from a vent on the upper eastern flank, disrupting air travel across the region.
Alternative Route via Malta Planned
The pair are now planning to travel via Malta to reach Athens. Their route involves a cab to the bus station, a three-hour bus to Porto di Pozzallo, a ferry to Malta, an overnight stay, and then a flight to Athens. However, some fellow wedding attendees who reached Malta are now stranded there due to shifting volcanic ash.
Evgenia compared their ordeal to Homer's epic: "It's like The Odyssey. We're Greek, and we're trying to get back there, and there are all these hurdles along the way." Catania Airport has suspended all arrivals and departures until at least 4pm on August 13, though services continue at Palermo Airport on the island's northern coast, but flights from there are reportedly sold out.
