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Belarus hit by flight disruptions

All flights from Minsk to countries westward of Belarus were cancelled on Saturday until at least 4 p.m. as a huge plume of volcanic ash continued drifting across Europe from Iceland.

“Belarus’ airspace at an altitude of 7,000 meters and more has been closed. The airspace below is open,” Uladzimir Nahulevich, a senior official at the transport ministry’s aviation department, told BelaPAN. He said that flights in the eastern and southern directions, including to Moscow, were not cancelled.

The authorities will consider whether or not to extend the no-fly restrictions later on Saturday, according to Mr. Nahulevich. The Belarusian government on Friday temporarily eased visa formalities for foreigners whose flights were cancelled because of the ash cloud.