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Icelandic volcanic ash alert back to orange after eruption

Iceland has cut its ash alert level for aviation to orange from red after raising it to the maximum level earlier in the day due to a fresh eruption from a fissure in the Bardarbunga volcano system.

Iceland's largest volcanic system has been hit by thousands of earthquakes over the last two weeks and scientists have been on high alert.

In 2010, an ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, in a different region of Iceland, closed much of Europe's air space for six days.

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Icelandair flight makes 'extra circle' over active volcano

Seismic activity at the volcano in central Iceland has been increasing in recent years, prompting fears of a 'glacial outburst flood' and disruption to international aviation.

On Sunday, the country's Met Office raised the threat level to red - the maximum - before downgrading it to orange.

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