Volcanic ash closes Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría International Airport

© The Tico Times

Turrialba Volcano registered three explosions on Thursday, March 12, 2015, spreading ash over the capital San José and causing the Juan Santamaría International Airport to close around 4:00 p.m.

Juan Santamaría International Airport will remain closed until at least 8:00 a.m. Friday, March 13, according to airport administration. Airport spokeswoman Silvia Chávez said that the Friday re-opening was conditional on overnight activity at Turrialba Volcano.

Falling ash from Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano closed the country's Juan Santamaría International Airport on Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:00 p.m., according to airport management.

As of 5:00 p.m., there were 10 affected flights.

Seven flights are grounded: 1 Iberia flight, 2 Avianca flights, 1 Copa flights, 1 Air Canada flight, and 2 cargo flights.

Three flights are in the air and unable to land: 2 Copa flights and 1 FedEx cargo flight.

A list of the airport's upcoming flight departures and their status can be found on its website.

An airport spokeswoman said conditions had improved as of 5:00 p.m. but the airport remained indefinitely closed. Inspectors at the airport are assessing the safety of the runway.

The Public Security Ministry's Air Surveillance Service says ash poses a risk to planes because of obscured visibility and because it can interfere with the plane's jets or propellers.

Turrialba Volcano erupted three times Thursday morning and early afternoon, sending volcanic ash more than a kilometer into the air. Winds carried the ash 67 kilometers from the crater to the capital, where it dusted cars and homes. The ash restricted visibility and irritated eyes in San José.

Rocío Pérez tweeted a picture of the sky from Heredia, saying that it was "raining ash."