Report: 5 Moroccan airports closed because of Icelandic volcano ash

5 Moroccan airports closed because of ash

RABAT, Morocco — Morocco’s state news agency says transport authorities have closed Casablanca airport and four others because of a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland.

The MAP news agency cites the Transport Ministry as saying the airports are closed until Tuesday afternoon “to guarantee a maximum level of security for passengers.”

The airports affected are Casablanca, Rabat-Sale, Tangiers, Tetouan and Essaouira.

Morocco’s airports were not affected when the eruption of the volcano in Iceland forced a five-day suspension of air traffic in Europe last month.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities say seven airports are closed because of ash from the volcano in Iceland.

The Spanish National Airport Authority says airports in the Canary islands of Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera are closed since 5 a.m. (0300 GMT, 11 p.m. EDT Monday) Tuesday, likely affecting dozens of tourist flights.

On mainland Spain, airports at Seville and Jerez in the south and Badajoz in the east were closed at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT, midnight EDT).

The agency says Spain also still has restrictions on planes flying between 20,000 feet and 35,000 feet above the ground, mainly affecting trans-Atlantic flights to and from other European countries.

Up to 20 Spanish airports, including international hub Barcelona, closed over the weekend because of the ash.