The ash stopped the bus for hours

 

Italy
Swedes stuck in Sicily after volcanic eruption

Linnea Blomberg

Published 20.40

Lava flows and ash are spreading across Sicily after two volcanic eruptions this week.

Now both tourists and residents are affected.

- It was so thick with ash on the road, the wheels just spun, says Swedish Johan Nellfors, who was stuck on a bus for five hours.

After the eruption of the Etna and Stromboli volcanoes, it rains ash over Sicily.

Authorities have issued a red alert following the eruption of the latter volcano, which came on Thursday, just days after Etnas.

At the same time, it is currently high season for vacationers on the Mediterranean island.

Due to the ash, Johan Nellfors was stuck on a bus for five hours on Thursday. Together with his family and many other tourists, he was going on an excursion to take a closer look at the spectacular eruptions.

- It was so thick with ash on the road, the buses just stood there, he says.

Finally, the buses could reverse down the narrow roads.

Johan and the others were six kilometers from the eruption when they were forced to turn back.

- It was really cool, but it's a shame that we couldn't get closer, he says.

 

Johan Nellfors and family
1 / 2Photo: Private
 

"You can sweep ash everywhere"

Another Swede who witnessed the volcanic eruptions is Linn Nilsson, who lived in Sicily for twelve years where she works with horses.

- You are not affected that much, except that you have to go and sweep ashes everywhere, she says.

- Then you have to be a little careful when driving on the roads. Cycling on these roads right now is not much fun, I can tell you, she says.

 

Lava flows out of the volcano.
1 / 2Photo: Johan Nellforss