Airports close in Iceland

May 23 2011 // News
Iceland closed its main international airport on Sunday after a volcanic eruption. The country's most active volcano, sent ash and smoke twenty kilometers into the air. Airlines were told on Sunday to brace for a possible further spread of ash later in the week.

Ash could reach northern Scotland by midday on Tuesday and reach other parts of Britain, western France and northern Spain by Friday if nothing changes. A thick cloud of ash blocked out the daylight at towns and villages at the foot of the glacier, where the volcano lies. 

Officials say the eruption is much stronger than the volcano farther south last year, which closed European airspace for six days. They say the ash is coarser than in last year's eruption, and is falling to the ground more quickly.