Iceland volcano prompts evacuation

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, April 14 (UPI) -- Volcanic action near the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland Wednesday sent a rush of melted ice to the sea and ash into the sky, emergency officials said.

About 800 people were evacuated out of harm's way and no injuries were reported.

"There are large floods on both sides of the volcano, and the road in is blocked and the whole area is isolated due to the floods," Sky News quoted an unnamed diplomat as saying.

Sky News reported the clouds of ash had forced flights to be grounded over nearby Norway.

The Daily Telegraph reported meteorologists said the airborne volcanic ash was headed toward Britain where it was expected to cause flight delays Thursday. The British newspaper said officials at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland said a closure of airspace planned to begin at midnight was expected to have a "considerable impact" on flight arrivals and departures.

Until an initial eruption last month, the volcano had been dormant since an eruption in 1821-1823.

Witnesses told the Iceland Review they saw fire at the southwest part of the top crater of the Eyjafjallajokull glacier. The Review said a live webcam showed a jet-black plume rising from the volcanic crater Wednesday evening and it appeared the eruption was gaining strength.

The Review reported the Markarfljot River, which had risen because of snow and ice melted by the volcano, had subsided after peaking at 1 p.m. but the Civil Protection Department was monitoring the flood-risk situation closely.

Earlier in the day National Geographic reported huge steam clouds emanating from the volcano, which it said was quickly melting the 650-foot-thick ice cap on the volcanic mountain. It said initial reports indicated the runoff had raised local rivers by up to 10 feet and had closed a major road as the water rushed into the ocean.