Europe on alert
May 24, 2011
REYKJAVIK: An eruption by Iceland’s most active volcano put Europe on high alert on Monday as a billowing ash cloud drifted towards Scotland and threatened to shut down airports across the northern edge of the continent.
Northern Europe’s fringe was affected first, though experts saw little chance of a repeat of last year’s six-day travel chaos caused by the eruption of another Icelandic volcano.
People living next to the glacier where the Grimsvotn volcano burst into life on Saturday were most affected, with ash shutting out the daylight and smothering buildings and vehicles.
An Icelandic Met Official said ash from the volcano could touch northwest Scotland as early as Monday evening.
Northern Europe’s fringe was affected first, though experts saw little chance of a repeat of last year’s six-day travel chaos caused by the eruption of another Icelandic volcano.
People living next to the glacier where the Grimsvotn volcano burst into life on Saturday were most affected, with ash shutting out the daylight and smothering buildings and vehicles.
An Icelandic Met Official said ash from the volcano could touch northwest Scotland as early as Monday evening.
