Volcanic ash cloud from Iceland also in Spitsbergen

The volcano at the Eyjafjalla-glacier in Iceland gives Spitsbergen some of the remoteness back that it used to have in the past. The recent concentration of ash particles in the atmosphere above Norway forced planes from and to Longyearbyen to remain on the ground, meaning that Spitsbergen was cut off not only for human traffic, but also for food and other deliveries, mail and medical emergency flights. The coast guard was on standby in case of urgent medical evacuations. After two days, the first tourists were flown out of Longyearbyen to Tromsø.

Sources: Svalbardposten and Sysselmannen