Puyehue Volcano (AP Photo/Martin Iniguez)
From time to time since its eruption on June 4, flights in many southern parts of South America(even including Australia) have been disrupted by ash clouds from Puyehue Volcano in Chile. Volcanic fine ashes can damage airplane engines. Yesterday, flights were cancelled for hours in Uruguay and Argentina.
Most of the country was covered by ash clouds, said Laura Vanoli, Uruguay’s chief aeronautic meteorologist.
About a dozen flights from several airlines were suspended in Uruguay, said the website of the Carrasco International Airport serving Montevideo. In Buenos Aires, poor visibility due to the ash have cancelled about 20 flights and delaying others, airport authorities said.
Air traffic, however, returned to normal in Uruguay and Argentina but with delays due to postponed flights.
More disruptions will likely to happen as long as the Andean volcano remains active.