Flights cancelled as volcano erupts

MANY flights were cancelled yesterday as a volcano on Montserrat plunged surrounding islands in the Caribbean into a gritty haze.

Tree branches were snapped off by the weight of the ash and significant damage was done to surrounding vegetation on the British territory.

“There is no one in the area right now, but as a precaution we are asking people in surrounding areas to stay indoors,” said Richard Herd, director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.