olcano ash cloud
- The eruption in Iceland on Wednesday sent ash kilometres into the air. Satellite images show the cloud as brownish-black as ice particles mingle with ash.
Flights have been disrupted across northern Europe by volcanic ash drifting south and east from Iceland.
Airspace was closed or flights cancelled in countries including the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and France.
The ash, which can damage aeroplane engines, was produced by a volcanic eruption under a glacier in Iceland.
Flooding was reported as the glacier melted, and up to 800 people were evacuated from the area on Wednesday.
By Thursday afternoon, the UK had shut its airspace and other countries, from Belgium to Scandinavia, were in the process of following suit.
'Wait and see'
UK airspace was shut down to all but emergency flights from midday (1100 GMT) on Thursday to 0700 BST (0600 GMT) on Friday, at the earliest. It was also closed in Ireland.
"Volcanic ash represents a significant safety threat to aircraft," said the UK's Air Traffic Control Service (Nats).
 | COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: UK Republic of Ireland Norway Partial or planned closures: Sweden (total closure by 2000 GMT) Denmark (total by 1600 GMT) Finland (northern airspace closed till 1200 GMT Friday) Belgium (total from 1430 GMT) Netherlands (being shut progressively) France (northern airports by 2100 GMT) |
Oslo airport, which is Norway's largest, was closed on Thursday morning, meaning Norwegian airspace was completely closed.
Belgium, Sweden and Denmark announced they would be shutting their entire airspace, northern Finland was closed and the Netherlands was being closed progressively.
French aviation officials said on Thursday afternoon that the main airports in Paris and other airports in the north of the country were to be closed.
"Flights will be cancelled probably all day with the current prognosis," said Jo Kobro, information manager at Oslo Airport.
"Then we have to wait and see what the new weather forecasts will say about the wind direction, and if we are lucky the volcano diminishes in strength."
There was severe disruption in Germany and in Spain.
Britain's Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in or out of UK airspace from middayamid fears of engine damage.
Airports in Scotland had already been shut earlier on Thursday and flights at several English airports had been suspended.
Road cut off
The last volcanic eruption at the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in south-western Iceland was on 20 March and it forced about 500 people in the sparsely populated area from their homes. Before that, the last eruption started in 1821 - and lasted for two years.
Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.
Ash spewing from the volcano in Iceland on Wednesday
Eyewitnesses and local officials said there were two flows of flood water coming off the glacier, and that a road along the flooded Markarfljot river had been cut in several places.
A group of Norwegians including the ambassador who were camping near the volcano were among those expecting to be evacuated late on Wednesday.
"There are large floods on both sides of the volcano, and the road in (to where they are) is blocked and the whole area is isolated due to the floods," said Per Landroe, a spokesman for the Norwegian embassy.
"There are fears that a large bridge will break," he told AFP.
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