A British couple are stranded in Sicily after a huge ash cloud from Mount Etna's eruption grounded flights out of the island. Evgenia Filimianova, 39, from London, and her husband are stuck in Catania, unable to return to their seven-year-old daughter in Athens.
Wedding Trip Turns into Ordeal
On August 7, Evgenia flew from Athens to Catania, Sicily, to attend a friend's wedding in Taormina with her husband. They were among the last passengers allowed to land at Catania Airport before it closed due to the volcanic activity.
After travelling to Catania Airport for their flight back home on August 11, they found out their flight was cancelled thirty minutes before it was set to depart. The couple, who live in London but are staying in Athens for August, are still stranded in Sicily, trying to find their way back home.
Witnessing the Eruption
Evgenia, a journalist, described seeing Mount Etna erupting from the wedding venue: "We were having a very nice day in Taormina, at the wedding, enjoying our time there, but we could see the eruption and the volcano spewing lava." She added, "It's an incredible thing to be able to witness. I've never seen anything like that before. I wasn't necessarily scared, but it was concerning. I was just in awe."
The couple stayed in Taormina until they travelled to Catania for their flight. "We arrived at Catania airport and there were loads and loads of people there," she said. "There were people sleeping on the floor, families stuck, just lots of people all trying to get out. We waited for our flight, and then 30 minutes before we were meant to depart, it was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day."
No Way Out
On August 12, Catania Airport announced there would be no arrivals or departures due to the ash cloud. "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 are now planning to travel to Malta and then back to Athens. "The plan is to get a cab to the bus station, then a three hour bus to Porto di Pozzallo, then a ferry to Malta, then a cab to a hotel, stay there overnight and then a cab to the airport," she explained. "And then we're just hoping we'll be able to fly to Athens."
Financial and Emotional Strain
The couple have already spent at least £1,000 on emergency travel and accommodation, and they are unsure if their insurance will cover the costs. "Emotionally, it's not easy. It's stressful and tiring and we weren't prepared for it. We're acting like 24/7 booking agents," Evgenia said.
Catania Airport has suspended all arrivals and departures until 4pm on August 13, with advice to check local travel advice before heading to the airport. Flights are still operating from Palermo Airport, but Evgenia said those are fully booked.
