Ash: Berlin airports to close

2011-05-25 10:13

Berlin - Berlin airports will close as of 09:00 GMT on Wednesday because of danger posed by ash pouring from an Icelandic volcano, Germany air safety officials announced.

Earlier in the day, the cloud had reached northern Germany forcing the closure of Bremen and Hamburg airports.

The leading German airline, Lufthansa, had earlier said it expected to cancel about 150 flights on Wednesday because of the ash cloud which on Tuesday had forced the closure of Northern Ireland and Scottish air space.

Poland and Scandinavian countries were also expected to be affected.

The most active volcano in Iceland began an eruption on Saturday, its most violent in at least a century.

The cloud is the second in barely a year from an Icelandic volcano to disrupt air traffic.
 

- SAPA