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Europe faces prolonged air chaos Europe faces prolonged air chaos
(about 1 hour later)
The European air traffic control organisation has said flights could be disrupted for another 48 hours by ash spewing from a volcano in Iceland.The European air traffic control organisation has said flights could be disrupted for another 48 hours by ash spewing from a volcano in Iceland.
Eurocontrol spokesman Brian Flynn said a lack of wind in the area meant the ash cloud was "progressing very slowly eastwards" and remained "very dense".Eurocontrol spokesman Brian Flynn said a lack of wind in the area meant the ash cloud was "progressing very slowly eastwards" and remained "very dense".
Up to 5,000 flights could have been affected by the end of Thursday.Up to 5,000 flights could have been affected by the end of Thursday.
Planes have been grounded in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The UK, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands closed their airspaces.
France is also preparing to close its main airports. France shut down 24 airports in the north of the country, including the main hub of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, while Germany's Berlin and Hamburg airports were also closed on Thursday evening.
The UK closed its entire airspace to all but emergency flights because of the risk of the ash damaging planes' engines. The restrictions are not expected to be lifted before 1300 (1200 GMT) on Friday at the earliest.
'Foreseeable future''Foreseeable future'
Eurocontrol, which covers 38 nations across Europe, said the ash ejected by the volcano underneath the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in Iceland would continue to move in a south-easterly direction.Eurocontrol, which covers 38 nations across Europe, said the ash ejected by the volcano underneath the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in Iceland would continue to move in a south-easterly direction.
We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud Tim Farish, Oslo Volcanic ash: Your travel stories A guide to Iceland's volcanoes We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud Tim Farish, Oslo Volcanic ash: Your travel stories href="/2/hi/uk_news/8623806.stm">UK extends air restrictions class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8623239.stm">A guide to Iceland's volcanoes
Based on the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, normal air traffic control services could not be provided to flights in airspaces affected by volcanic ash, requiring the temporary suspension of air traffic, it added.Based on the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, normal air traffic control services could not be provided to flights in airspaces affected by volcanic ash, requiring the temporary suspension of air traffic, it added.
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.
Mr Flynn, Eurocontrol's assistant head of operations, said the extent of the disruption was "greater than we've ever seen before in the EU" and warned that the problem could persist for a further 48 hours.Mr Flynn, Eurocontrol's assistant head of operations, said the extent of the disruption was "greater than we've ever seen before in the EU" and warned that the problem could persist for a further 48 hours.
COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: UKRepublic of IrelandNorwayDenmarkSwedenBelgiumNetherlands Partial or planned closures: Finland (northern airspace closed till 1200 GMT Friday)France (northern airports by 2100 GMT)
"The meteorological situation is such that the volcanic ash is progressing very slowly eastwards but there is not a lot of wind... so it is very slow and very dense," he told the Reuters news agency."The meteorological situation is such that the volcanic ash is progressing very slowly eastwards but there is not a lot of wind... so it is very slow and very dense," he told the Reuters news agency.
COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: UKRepublic of IrelandNorwayDenmarkSwedenBelgiumNetherlandsFinland Partial or planned closures: France (northern airspace)Poland (northern airspace)
A spokesman for the UK's National Air Traffic Service (Nats) said its airspace restriction was the worst in living memory, and that it was "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future".A spokesman for the UK's National Air Traffic Service (Nats) said its airspace restriction was the worst in living memory, and that it was "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future".
The restrictions silenced Heathrow airport, the world's second busiest, and stranded tens of thousands of passengers around the world. The restrictions will not be lifted before 1300 (1200 GMT) on Friday at the earliest.
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands all later shut down their airspace entirely, while there was also major disruption in Finland, France, Germany and Spain. The move silenced Heathrow airport, the world's second busiest, and stranded tens of thousands of passengers around the world.
The Republic of Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Finland all later shut down their airspace entirely, while there was also major disruption in France, Germany, Poland and Spain.
The Norwegian and Belgian authorities said their airspace would remain closed for most of Friday. Half of all transatlantic flights are expected to be cancelled.
Tim Farish, who had been planning to fly from Oslo to London on business, told the BBC he had been told by the airline SAS to stay at home and not bother calling for updates.Tim Farish, who had been planning to fly from Oslo to London on business, told the BBC he had been told by the airline SAS to stay at home and not bother calling for updates.
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Stranded passengers in Paris, Stockholm, Dublin and OsloStranded passengers in Paris, Stockholm, Dublin and Oslo
"We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud," he told the BBC from his home in the Norwegian capital."We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud," he told the BBC from his home in the Norwegian capital.
"This could last for a few days apparently, so all I can do, like anyone else, is sit and wait.""This could last for a few days apparently, so all I can do, like anyone else, is sit and wait."
'Days or weeks''Days or weeks'
The volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier began erupting on Wednesday for the second time in a month, hurling a plume of ash 11km (seven miles) into the atmosphere. By the time it reached the northern UK, it had risen to 16km. The volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier began erupting on Wednesday for the second time in a month, hurling a plume of ash 11km (seven miles) into the atmosphere. A 500m-wide fissure appeared at the top of the crater.
Witnesses said two flows of floodwater had started coming off the glacier on Wednesday, and that a road along the flooded Markarfljot river had been cut in several places. As many as 800 people were evacuated from their homes. The heat melted the surrounding ice, and witnesses said two flows of meltwater started coming off the glacier on Wednesday.
As many as 800 people were later evacuated from their homes as water carried pieces of ice reportedly the size of small houses down the mountain. A road along the flooded Markarfljot river was also cut in several places.
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Ash spewing from the volcano in Iceland on WednesdayAsh spewing from the volcano in Iceland on Wednesday
On Thursday, the flooding was reported to have subsided, but the volcano was still producing ash that was being blown towards Europe.On Thursday, the flooding was reported to have subsided, but the volcano was still producing ash that was being blown towards Europe.
"It is likely that the production of ash will continue at a comparable level for some days or weeks. But where it disrupts travel, that depends on the weather," Einar Kjartansson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the Associated Press."It is likely that the production of ash will continue at a comparable level for some days or weeks. But where it disrupts travel, that depends on the weather," Einar Kjartansson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the Associated Press.
"It depends how the wind carries the ash.""It depends how the wind carries the ash."
The last volcanic eruption beneath the glacier was on 20 March. The eruption before that started in 1821 - and continued for two years.The last volcanic eruption beneath the glacier was on 20 March. The eruption before that started in 1821 - and continued for two years.
Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.
Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below.Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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