Iceland issues red alert for Bardarbunga volcano

Iceland has issued a red alert over the Bardarbunga volcano – the highest warning level – amid fears of an eruption. The aviation alert means significant ash emissions are likely. In 2010 the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano produced an ash cloud that caused the largest closure of European airspace since World War II, leading to enormous financial losses as thousands of flights were cancelled.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office issued the warning as a sub-glacial eruption shook Bardarbunga, which has been disturbed by hundreds of earthquakes since Tuesday. The air space over Bardarbunga has been closed but all airports in Iceland remain open.