La Palma’s airport forced to close as second volcanic vent opens, spewing more ash across the Spanish Island
Photo Illustration
Authorities have closed La Palma’s airport as a new vent opened in an erupting volcano, spreading more ash across the island.
Flights to and from the Spanish island have been cancelled as a result of the volcanic eruption that has lasted nearly a week.
Rivers of lava poured down the slopes of the volcano and flew high into the air as the eruption entered its most explosive stage after a new vent opened on Saturday.
La Palma Airport operator Aena said on Twitter that plane traffic was suspended “due to the accumulation of ash” in the air.
Other airports in the Canary Islands are still operational, the company added.
Workers wearing PPE cleared up the ash as travellers attempted to change their tickets to get on the next available flights.
Other passengers opted to travel by ferry to another island in the Canaries where they could catch flights.
The intensity of the eruptions has increased in recent days, prompting the evacuation of three additional villages on the island. Almost 7,000 people have had to leave their homes.
“Volcanic surveillance measurements carried out since the beginning of the eruption recorded the highest-energy activity so far during Friday afternoon,” emergency services said.
Emergency crews pulled back from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Friday as explosions sent molten rock and ash over a wide area.
Lava flows have destroyed hundreds of buildings on the island’s western side.
Residents there were initially told to stay indoors but emergency services said they decided to take more serious precautions due to increased volcanic activity.
On a visit to La Palma on Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a package of measures to help get the island back on its feet and “rebuild lives”.
he Spanish government will provide aid for rebuilding homes and public infrastructure, such as roads, irrigation networks and schools, as well as relaunching the island’s tourism industry, Mr Sanchez said.
He did not say how much money would be made available but said a cabinet meeting next week would provide more details.
No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported amid the volcano’s eruption, but about 15% of the island’s economically crucial banana crop could be at risk of destruction.
Courtesy of Sky News
China shuts down ports, cancels flights as Typhoon In-Fa nears
China has shut down railways and ports, with cargo ships ordered out of the sea and flights cancelled, before Typhoon In-Fa’s expected landfall.
The storm is projected to hit the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang near Shanghai late on Sunday, just as other parts of the country struggle to recover from devastating floods earlier this week.
In-Fa had sustained winds of 155km per hour (95 miles per hour) with gusts up to 191kmph (120mph) as it moved northwest away from Taiwan, where it caused high waves and heavy rain but there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
Schools, markets and businesses in Zhejiang were ordered to close, the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that road traffic would be suspended when necessary.
Authorities have issued a level III alert – the third-highest – for In-Fa, while more than 100 trains travelling through the region have been cancelled, according to China Railway.
Shanghai authorities closed some public parks and museums and warned residents on Saturday to “stop large-scale outdoor gatherings” and to stay indoors.
The airport in the provincial capital of Hangzhou, southwest of Shanghai, cancelled 90 percent of flights on Sunday and was expected to cancel more on Monday, the newspaper Zhejiang Daily reported on its website.
Meanwhile, all container ship docks were shut down from Yangshan Port south of Shanghai and 150 vessels including passenger ships and cargo vessels were evacuated from the area.
Courtesy of aljazeera.com
Natural Disaster Alert: Volcanic Ash in Barbados – U.S. Embassy Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
The Barbados Meteorological Services issued a severe volcanic ash warning for the island on April 10, 2021. A thick plume of volcanic ash from the La Soufriere Volcano in St Vincent, which erupted on April 9, is currently affecting the island. Satellite imagery of the volcano continues to show a thick plume of ash traveling easterly towards Barbados. There have been reports of ash fall across the island, and Saharan dust haze also remains present, which will continue to reduce visibility and may cause respiratory problems, especially for those persons with pre-existing respiratory issues or allergies.
The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados is closed until at least 6 a.m. on April 11, 2021, due to the volcanic ash.
Actions to Take:
Remain vigilant and maintain active awareness of local conditions.
Limit outdoor activity and wear masks (N95 ideally) when outdoors
Close windows and use air filters if available indoors.
Persons with respiratory issues or allergies should ensure they have, close at hand, all prescribed relevant medications and inhalers in case of an emergency.
Use car headlights to assist with the reduced visibility and do not use the car’s ventilation system.
Monitor the Barbados Meteorological Services website for updates.
Courtesy of bb.usembassy.gov
Iceland volcano Fagradalsfjall between capital & main airport ERUPTS, triggering halt to air traffic
Photo Illustration
A volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland following heavy seismic activity and a series of small earthquakes in the area. All inbound and outgoing flights have been halted amid the eruption.
The Fagradalsfjall volcano, located around 20 miles (32km) south of the country’s capital of Reykjavik, erupted late on Friday night, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (ICO), which noted that all flights to and from the neighboring Keflavik International Airport had been paused.
A video captured from the Coast Guard helicopter and shared by the ICO showed a stream of glowing lava snaking down the mountain, with the office adding that the lava flow is only some 1.6 miles (2.6km) away from the town of Suðurstrandarvegur.
Photos of the eruption have circulated on social media, turning the night sky red.
Authorities from Keflavik were sent to assess the situation, the ICO said, while local media reported that a Coast Guard helicopter had also been dispatched to the area, bringing along two scientists to help determine next steps.
A local government spokesperson also announced that all main roads around the volcano had been closed “so that people do not get too close.”
Located on a peninsula in southwest Iceland, the volcano sits in a seismic hotspot which has seen some 40,000 small quakes since late February, putting the region on high alert for a volcanic episode. However, as noted by a local seismologist, activity in the area “died down almost completely” in the lead-up to Friday’s eruption.
Courtesy of rt.com
Major Snow Storm Slams the Northeast, USA, Crippling Air Travel and Closing the Subway
A powerful winter storm pummeled much of the Northeastern United States on Monday, canceling flights, causing outdoor subway closures and disrupting travel for millions of people along the I-95 corridor.
In New York City, a forecast of up to two feet of snow by Tuesday could make the snowstorm one of the biggest in the city’s history. More than 13 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park by 1 p.m., including eight inches in the previous six hours, the National Weather Service said on Twitter.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that heavy snow would give way to icy, dangerous conditions on Tuesday and that in-person learning at city schools would be canceled until Wednesday. The storm was also hampering the city’s ability to deal with pandemic and the city postponed coronavirus vaccination appointments scheduled for Monday and Tuesday to later in the week.
“At the most intense points, you’re going to see two to four inches of snow per hour,” Mr. de Blasio said. “That’s extremely intense snow. That’s blinding snow. You do not want to be out if there’s any way to avoid it.”
On Sunday, Mr. de Blasio issued a local emergency declaration, barring most travel in the city starting at 6 a.m. on Monday except in cases of emergencies. Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey declared a state of emergency beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday and said most of New Jersey Transit’s bus and rail operations would be temporarily suspended on Monday because of the storm.
As of 10:45 a.m. on Monday, a band of heavy snow was developing over parts of Pennsylvania and into the early afternoon with a mix of sleet and freezing rain that was expected to change back to snow soon, according to the National Weather Service, with accumulations of 12 to 24 inches forecast for the northeastern part of the state, as well as northern portions of New Jersey. Wind gusts could reach up to 35 m.p.h. Areas in central New Jersey could see snow totals around 15 inches, the service said, making travel extremely difficult.
In Philadelphia, about two inches of snow had fallen in the early hours of Monday, with about five inches in the suburbs. Conditions across the area were expected to dramatically worsen as the day progressed, local meteorologists said, an by day’s end Philadelphia may have eight to 12 inches of snow. Areas around the city were expected to get over a foot and more than 18 inches of snow was possible in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. A combination of heavy snow and strong winds up to 60 m.p.h. in some areas could create power outages.
In New England, blizzard-like conditions were forecast on Monday, meteorologists said. At noon, a wall of snow moved over the coastal areas of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut with snow falling at a rate of one two inches an hour. A foot was expected by the evening. Wind gusts up to 70 m.p.h. and moderate coastal flooding could occur.
By Monday evening, the snow will shift into Northern New England, according to the National Weather Service. Areas of rain and freezing rain could occur along the I-95 corridor from Washington to Philadelphia.
On Sunday, as much as three inches of snow fell across the Washington area, and forecasters predicted another inch or so on Monday.
Outdoor subway service in New York City was suspended starting at 2 p.m. on Monday because of the snowstorm, officials said.
There were no immediate plans to pause underground service, but that could change, said Sarah E. Feinberg, the interim president of New York City Transit, which runs the city’s subway and buses.
“This is a dangerous, life-threatening situation,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said at a news conference on Monday. “And expect major closures, so you’re not surprised. And we don’t want anyone to be stranded in a location where they can’t get home again.”
The shut down affected lines across the city and closed 204 of the system’s 472 stations, mostly n Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, according to a map shared by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Passengers were required to disembark at the last underground station before the train goes above ground.
Southbound service on the F line ended in Brooklyn at the Jay Street-MetroTech station, for example. In Queens, the 7 line ended northbound service at Hunters Point Avenue. In the Bronx, northbound service on the 6 line ended at Hunts Point Avenue.
Patrick J. Foye, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the subway, buses and two commuter lines, said the Long Island Railroad would stop running between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., while the last Metro-North Railroad trains would leave Grand Central Terminal around 3 p.m.
PATH trains, which link Manhattan with New Jersey, would also stop running at 3 p.m., according to Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Courtesy of nytimes.com
Madrid Paralysed’ by Heavy Snow Storms as Roads shut and Madrid Airport forced to Suspend Operations
Madrid Paralysed’ by Heavy Snow Storms as Roads shut and Madrid Airport forced to Suspend Operations.
The very heavy snow fall that was forecast by AEMET, the Spanish meteorological service, has tonight struck Spain’s capital Madrid.
Storm Filomena has kept all of Spain, except Melilla, on alert for intense cold, wind, rain and snow. The storm is affecting some 406 roads throughout Spain, 42 of them on the main network, according to an update by the General Directorate of Traffic. In addition, the secondary road network, 41, is on the black level, that means it is impassable and more than 200 roads are on the red level, with heavy vehicles now obligated to wear snow chains.
So far, up to 7:00 pm, there have been three flight diversions, one in Malaga, another in Córdoba and another in Tenerife North, and nine cancellations at Ceuta heliport.
In the capital, the M-30 ring road between the north junction and the Manoteras junction and the M-40 is cut into a small section. In this second route, snow chains are mandatory in the 60 kilometres of its journey.
The Community emergency service recommends not using private vehicles and reminds everyone of the obligation to use chains on their cars after ten at night. Also on the main network, the passage of traffic is completely interrupted in three kilometres in both directions of the CM-40 and another of the CM-42 as it passes through Toledo.
Courtesy of euroweeklynews.com
Canaries flights suspended as Saharan sand blankets islands #Sandstorm #CanaryIslands #GranCanaria #Fuerteventura #Lanzarote #Spain
Spain’s airport operator AENA suspended all flights in and out of Gran Canaria and all flights leaving Tenerife on Saturday evening after a storm carrying clouds of red sand from the Sahara hit the Canaries and severely reduced visibility.
At least 19 flights to Gran Canaria were diverted, a spokeswoman for AENA said. She did not specify which airlines had been affected.
Budget carrier Vueling, a subsidiary of IAG, said some of its services had been hit and advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Spain’s national weather service warned that winds of up to 120 kph (75 mph) are set to buffet the Canaries until Monday. Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are likely to be the worst hit, the weather service said.
Courtesy of reuters.com
Heathrow Airport technical outage causing panic among passengers #Heathrow #Airport #TechnicalOutage #Plane #London #UK
As Storm Dennis ploughs on, Heathrow Airport is experiencing problems of its own.
There are currently technical issues at the airport which are causing a lot of confusion.
Departure boards and check in systems at the airport have been impacted, rather than the flights.
It’s meant the airport has had to put a manual contingency plan in place for the time being.
Heathrow have also advised MyLondon that they have deployed additional extra staff and are making additional PA announcements to help direct passengers if they can’t find the information they need on the electronic boards.
A spokesperson from Heathrow said: “We are continuing to experience technical issues which we are currently being resolved.
“We have additional passenger ambassadors being deployed across our terminals to help direct our customers to their gates for departure.
“We apologise for the disruption this is causing our passengers.”
The problems come as this weekend’s terrible weather, caused by Storm Dennis, has led to flights being delayed and cancelled around the UK.
With winds forecast to reach up to 50mph, it’s not safe for many flights to go ahead.
Yet what people are annoyed about is the lack of information they feel Heathrow have provided them with.
One person tweeted: “Heathrow handling agents are a joke. I understand computer/tech/weather problems are beyond control but what is in control is keeping passengers updated.”
“There has been zero info on a delay. Just told to wait at gate. Stop treating us like idiots! We’re already over 1hr late.”
“At Heathrow travelling to Istanbul would a magic carpet be quicker, or do I have to rub a lamp and ask a genie for three wishes,” someone else wrote.
Courtesy of mylondon.news
STORM DENNIS UPDATE: Hundreds of flights cancelled in the UK and army called in ahead of heavy winds and flooding #StormDENNIS #flights #planes #cancellations #army #SevereAlert #FloodAlert #gales #UK
Warnings are in place across the whole of the UK, while a month’s worth of rainfall is expected in places.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and the army has been called in as Storm Dennis prepares to hit the UK with strong winds and flooding.
The UK is bracing for disruption as the “perfect storm” approaches, bringing gusts of up to 70mph (113kmph).
The storm could bring a month’s rainfall in one day and some parts of the country could see up to 12cm (4.7in).
More than 230 easyJet flights in and out of the UK have been cancelled due to the weather on Saturday.
British Airways has said most of its flights are scheduled to go ahead as planned, but it is expecting disruption due to strong winds.
As of 9.30am on Saturday, there were 14 flood warnings – meaning people should take immediate action as flooding is expected – and 140 flood alerts, which means flooding is possible.
Forecasters have issued separate weather warnings for rain and wind covering most of the UK until Monday.
This includes amber warnings from midday on Saturday over southern Scotland, northern England, Wales and part of the South West saying that flooding could cause a danger to life.
Troops are being deployed to help with flood preparations in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire.
The Ministry of Justice has said 75 personnel based in Catterick and 70 reservists from Yorkshire are constructing around 700m of barriers, helping to repair defences and lay down sandbags.
Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift said: “The presence of army officers in Calderdale will be a reassuring sight for the many residents and businesses who are still recovering from Storm Ciara and preparing for Storm Dennis.
“Council staff, partners, volunteers and community groups have worked tirelessly all week and will continue to work around the clock for as long as necessary to help keep people safe and to manage the flood risk.”
A Royal Navy ship is assisting in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Margate, Kent, after a man was reported overboard from a vessel at around 5:41am on Saturday.
It it is not clear if the incident is connected to Storm Dennis.
RNLI lifeboats, a police boat and the coastguard helicopter are assisting with the Navy ship with the search.
The Met Office says Storm Dennis poses a greater risk of widespread flooding than Storm Ciara the weekend before.
The Environment Agency (EA) said this is due to rain falling on already saturated ground.
Power cuts are also expected and there is a good chance train and buses will see cancellations or delays and roads closed.
Courtesy of Sky News
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