Iceland

When nature decides to ruin an entire continent’s day it’s a great reminder of how far technology has come in recent decades. The last time this Icelandic volcano let rip like this there weren’t jets noodling around the skies over Europe.

The ash plume

Associated Press has provided a handy syllable-by-syllable guide to pronouncing the name of the volcano responsible. Eyjafjallajokull: ay-yah-FYAH’-plah-yer-kuh-duhl. A doddle. Probably worth tuning into the 6pm TV news to see how it goes.

European airports have had to shut down as aircraft could literally fall out of the sky because of the ash plume spreading over the continent. More than half a million travellers are affected and some estimates put the economic cost at around half a billion Australian dollars. You may mention climate change in the comments.

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  • Liz smith says:

    06:38pm | 19/04/10

    You could invest in eyedrops too, this ash is making my eyes smart. Read more »

  • Kathleen says:

    01:40pm | 19/04/10

    I read this morning on Le Monde website different comments by French stuck at airports; and it was quit interesting to see how the companies-and french ambassies -handle the situation: some were provided rooms in Bangkok while others had to help themselves find a room in Shanghai Read more »

 

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