1.11 Catania

Question 1

Where is catania?

Answer 1

East cost of Sicily, base of mt etna

Question 2

When was the last major eruption

Answer 2

2006

Question 3

More facts

Answer 3

Hugely vulnerable to eruptions and earthquakes, particularly lava flows
Airspace impact can close catania airport

Question 4

What infrastructure is vulnerable in catania?

Answer 4

-Sapienza a ski refuge with cable car and ski lifts, tigether with northern ski resorts
-The round etna railway can be destroyed
-Catania airport - closure stops tourists arriving
-Hotels/housing - ash becomes cement, and is hard to remove with water. Weight causes buildings to collapse

Question 5

Which communities are vulnerable?

Answer 5

Rural ones - vineyards, olive groves, Mediterranean agriculture on rich volcanic soil
Main roads around the edge of the island to Palermo and Messina docks (to mainland Italy)

Question 6

Why does Sicily struggle to cope?

Answer 6

• Each eruption is difficult- crust fracture points in different places, lava viscosity and gas eruptions vary considerably
• Unexpected timings of minor eruptions
• High amount of vulnerable infrastructure. Single road access to ski resorts and towns