Costa Rica's Main Airport Closed Due to Volcanic Ash

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Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- Costa Rica's main airport remained closed Friday due to drifting ash from the nearby Turrialba volcano, authorities said.

Aeris, the company that operates Juan Santamaria International Airport, located near San Jose, said 12 inbound flights had been diverted and 10 scheduled departures were put on hold.

The airport was closed at around 4:00 p.m. Thursdays and crews have been working since then to clear the runways and shore up safety measures.

Turrialba, some 43.5 miles east of San Jose erupted three times on Thursday, sending columns of smoke and ash 3,300 feet into the sky, the Costa Rica Vulcanology and Seismology Observatory said.

Strong winds pushed the ash clouds over San Jose and other cities.

Authorities have reported no casualties or serious damage from the eruptions, though farming and ranching on the slopes of Turrialba have been affected and classes were canceled at some schools.

The volcano entered a more active phase in October, with several eruptions of ash, gases and minor volumes of magma.