Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, has erupted, suspending air travel in Italy and other nearby regions.
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Thousands of tourists have been delayed in their journey home due to the volcanic eruption, including longtime TV show host and actress Whoopi Goldberg.
Goldberg was forced to miss the July 6 episode of "The View" after she was stranded in Sicily due to the volcanic eruption.
During the Monday episode of The View, co-host Joy Behar revealed why Goldberg, as well as Ana Navarro and Sara Haines, were absent from the Hot Topics table.
"Hello, everybody. So you may be asking, 'Why am I here on a Monday?' I asked myself the same question," she revealed. "But [producer] Brian [Teta] begged me to come in. On his knees, where he belongs. Why? Because we are down three co-hosts today."
Fellow co-host Alyssa Garah Griffin joked that the show's hosts were "dropping like flies" just before the show broadcast a pre-recorded video of Goldberg.
"I am in Sicily right now," Goldberg shared in the video. "And Mount Etna, which is one of our active volcanoes here in Italy, decided to go off today."
The "Sister Act" star continued, "We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States. All of the airports are closed here. So I will be back as soon as I can."
Italy Suspends Air Travel Due to Volcanic Activity
Italy's national airline, ITA Airways, confirmed all departing and arriving flights at Catania Airport would either be cancelled or rescheduled on Monday.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology raised the aviation alert level to red after detecting intense activity at Etna. Dramatic images showed Strombolian eruptions - huge bursts of lava and hot rock blasting from the vent of the volcano.
Mount Etna, which is 35 kilometers in diameter at the base, is the largest volcano in Europe. It is one of the world's most active volcanoes, experiencing multiple eruptions per year.
ITA Airways has not yet announced when flights will resume in Italy.
During Goldberg's absence, comedian and actress Michelle Buteau is serving as a guest co-host on "The View."
"We want to thank our special guest who was roused out of her sleep this morning at 6 AM to come in and help us: the actress and comedian, Michelle Buteau," Behar announced Monday.
