MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ash cloud reaches Buenos Aires city at 5.000 metres height; all flights cancelled

Flights from Buenos Aires city have been cancelled until further notice (Photo AFP)

The Chilean volcano Puyehue ash cloud has reached the Argentine capital after moving across the Greater Buenos Aires, but the due effects of the cloud are seen to be minimal. Meanwhile local airlines confirmed cancelled all flights until further notice at the international airport of Ezeiza and at the domestic-flights metropolitan Aeroparque.

The cloud is said to be at 5,000 metres in height, and unless the winds change, it should not cause direct health problems. “At present, it’s moving across the Greater Buenos Aires area and the City, but its threat is minimal after it dispersing on its move from the south” said Jorge Etcherrán, executive director of Emergency Advice of the Buenos Aires province.

Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral informed that “due to the Puyehue volcano’s activity and the change in direction of the ash cloud, flight departures on Tuesday June 7, have been suspended until further notice.”

The information released by officials states, “from 10.30AM flights going out of Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini (EZE) airports, are suspended for security reasons.”

The airline also informed that the suspension of flights between Jorge Newbery Met Airport and Bariloche, Chapelco and Esquel remains intact until Sunday 12 June.

Aerolíneas also informed that the cancellation of flights between Jorge Newbery Met Airport (Aeroparque) and Bariloche, Chapelco and Esquel remains intact until Sunday 12 June. Flights between Aeroparque and Trelew, Neuquén, Viedma, Río Gallegos, Calafate, Ushuaia, Río Grande, Comodoro Rivadavia, Bahía Blanca, Santa Rosa and San Rafael will be kept in place until Thursday June 7th.

In addition to this, the company informed that “night flights to Santiago de Chile and Mendoza are also cancelled until Thursday June 9.”

International airlines Delta, American, GOL, TAM and United Airlines suspended their services for Tuesday and Wednesday to Atlanta, Miami, Santiago de Chile, Río de Janeiro and San Francisco, respectively.

The ash cloud produced by the Puyehue volcano eruption on Saturday which has moved its way through the northern part of Patagonia is now covering the southern, central and northern parts of San Luis province, the Argentine National Meteorological Service (SMN) informed.

According to SMN, on its move across Northern Patagonia, the ash cloud took the form of an inverted v, and now reaches a height of 8,000 metres. It was also reported that if the wind speeds reduce, ash will begin to fall across the whole of the province of Buenos Aires.