Anchorage airport closed as ash falls

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 29 (UPI) -- The airport in Anchorage, Alaska, was closed Sunday morning because volcanic ash clouds created by Mount Redoubt reduced visibility, officials said.

The volcanic mountain, which returned to life last Sunday, last erupted Saturday afternoon, shooting ash at least 51,000 feet into the air.

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport had trace amounts of ash on its grounds, CNN reported. Airport spokesman Jeremy Lindseth said he did not know how many flights were canceled or rerouted as a

result.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory has set its volcano alert level at its highest possible designation, indicating an eruption is under way or imminent and is likely to produce a "significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere."

CNN said volcanic activity Friday prompted Alaska Airlines to limit flights in and out of Anchorage. On Thursday, the airline canceled flights to and from Anchorage after the volcano sent an ash cloud 65,000 feet high.