Montserrat volcano disrupts flights

A number of flights to and from the Caribbean were cancelled following a volcanic eruption in Montserrat.

The National Institute of Civil Aviation in Venezuela told the Reuters news agency that some flights were cancelled following Saturday's eruption including Venezuelan airlines Aeropostal, Aserca and Santa Barbara flights.

A number of American Airlines flights were also cancelled due to the volcano's cloud, which is thought to have affected aircraft travelling from 5,000 to 55,000 feet.

Sue Loughlin, director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, told the news agency that ash had initially risen to a height of 60,000.

"There will be an all clear probably quite soon from the authorities here but the eruption of the volcano continues," she said, adding that the timing of the explosion may have saved a number of lives.

"Generally, getting rid of the dome is a good thing because the dome was getting very large," she explained.

"If it had gotten much bigger it would have been a significant threat to populated parts of Montserrat."

No casualties have been reported.