Category: volcano

The never-ending ash cloud causes worldwide chaos

19-Apr-10 15:16

 

I must admit, I'm feeling a little out of sync today as I should have been jetting off to the Mexican Caribbean last Friday and instead, I am trying to make the most of the ‘glorious' British sunshine, but it's just not the same as a hot, white sandy beach is it?

The eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland last Thursday has caused worldwide disruption to the economy. Not only is the volcanic ash now covering our skies across the majority of Europe, it is now working its way across the Atlantic over to Canada.

Many flights and holidays have had to be cancelled as tour operators cannot predict when this natural disaster will come to an end, we can only hope that Mother Nature will run its course quickly. NATS have had to close all air space for the time being until the ash clouds have fully cleared, leaving thousands of people stranded and unable to get home. The Met Office has produced a rough estimation of the ash covering, giving us an insight into just how bad the situation really is.

On a more positive note, I am extremely thankful that I was fortunate enough to receive a full refund for my holiday, and am also grateful that I'm not stuck in a foreign airport having to sleep rough on the cold, marble floor. I really feel for the local Icelandic residents having to face the brunt of it all, particularly when you see such shocking photos in the press.

The impact that it's having on the economy is endless; the daily cost to the global airline industry is estimated at £130m a day in lost revenue. Other areas of the economy have also been affected including: tourism, food and other supplies, schools, universities and sport.

Donna