Due to the drifting volcanic ashes from Iceland, air space over northwestern Germany will be closed from 14:00 local time (1200 GMT) on Thursday, German media quoted European air control authorities Eurocontrol as saying.

A spokesman of Eurocontrol in Brussels told German news agency DPA that the volcanic cloud is expected to reach Belgium air space at about 16:00 local time. To prevent ash particles from damaging aircraft, the Eurocontrol has decided to ground flights in Belgium, the Netherlands and northwestern Germany.

Many flights have already been cancelled in Britain, Norway and Sweden due to drifting ashes from volcanic eruptions that started under the Eyjafjalla glacier in southern Iceland on Wednesday.