Bigger Icelandic eruption, but less airline angst

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP):

AN ICELANDIC volcano was flinging ash, smoke and steam miles (kilometres) into the air Sunday, dropping a thick layer of grey soot in an eruption far more forceful - but likely far less impactful - than the one that grounded planes across Europe last year.

The country's main airport was closed and pilots were warned to steer clear of Iceland as areas close to the Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano were plunged into darkness. But scientists said another widespread aviation shutdown is unlikely, in part because the ash from this eruption is coarser and falling to Earth more quickly.

The volcano, which lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland, began erupting Saturday for the first time since 2004. It was the volcano's largest eruption in 100 years.

The ash from Grimsvotn - about 120 miles (200 kilometres) east of the capital, Reykjavik - turned the sky black Sunday and rained down on nearby buildings, cars and fields. Civil-protection workers helped farmers get their animals into shelter and urged residents to wear masks and stay indoors. No ash fell on the capital.

A flight information board marks flights as cancelled at Keflavik airport, Iceland on Sunday, May 22, as Iceland closed its main international airport and cancelled domestic flights as a powerful volcanic eruption sent a plume of ash, smoke and steam 12 miles (20 kilometres) into the air.