image taken from amateur video, smoke from the Grimsvotn volcano, Iceland is seen from a plane Saturday. Iceland's most active volcano has started erupting, scientists said Saturday, just over a year after another eruption on the North Atlantic island shut down European air traffic for days, but the impact of this volcanic eruption is not yet known.

 

celand closed its main international airport as a volcanic eruption sent a plume of ash, smoke and steam 12 miles into the air,

and other airports on the island are likely to close during the day, the civil aviation authority said on Sunday.

Airport and air traffic control operator ISAVIA said Keflavik airport was closed at 0830 GMT (4:30 a.m. EDT), and no flights were taking off or landing.

"The ash distribution forecast over the next six hours shows that the ash from the volcano will spread over Iceland today, leading to the closure of most Icelandic airports as the day goes on," ISAVIA said in a statement.

Spokeswoman Hjordis Gudmundsdottir said the ash plume was covering Iceland, but "the good news is that it is not heading to Europe."

 

TODAY.com

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