Flights to and from Sicily's Catania Airport have been cancelled or rerouted because of the volcanic activity, Polish foreign ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór told public broadcaster TVP Info.
Asked where Polish tourists affected by the disruptions at Catania Airport should seek assistance, Wewiór said they should first contact their airlines.
"Airlines have a legal obligation to take care of their passengers," Wewiór said.
He added that Polish diplomats were in contact with affected citizens and assisting them with communication with airlines where possible.
"We are talking at the moment about around 200 people," Wewiór said. "Of course, that number is changing, as flights are being rerouted to other airports and people are also leaving Sicily by other means."
He urged Polish tourists to register with the foreign ministry's Odyseusz system, which allows consular officials to contact citizens more quickly in an emergency and enables the ministry to send warnings more rapidly.
The foreign ministry said on Tuesday that travellers leaving Sicily should check their flight status directly on their airline's website or mobile app before heading to the airport and contact the airline for further information.
"Due to volcanic activity from Mount Etna, there are disruptions to air traffic in Sicily, including cancellations and changes to flights from Catania Airport," the ministry said.
It warned that disruptions could also affect other airports in the region.
In the event of a cancelled flight, travellers were advised to consider alternative airports, including those in Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Trapani, Comiso and Lamezia Terme, as well as Malta.
Planes were barred from landing at Catania Airport until 7 p.m. on Tuesday because of increased volcanic activity from Mount Etna, while departures were restricted to a single runway, Polish state news agency PAP reported, citing the company operating the airport.
The restrictions were caused by a cloud of volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
Tuesday was another day of major disruptions at the airport, which handles dozens of flights during the peak summer tourist season.
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Source: IAR/PAP/TVP Info