The eruption of a volcano in Iceland which...

"Currently, the eruption has diminished markedly," Bryndis Brandsdottir of the University of Iceland told AFP.

The seismologist also said in the past 36 hours the volcano has spawned less ash than previously.

"The ash column does not rise above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet)," she said.

The eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in Iceland, which began on Wednesday, has disabled air traffic throughout central and northern Europe, leaving thousands of travelers stranded.

Meanwhile, the European air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, has said up to 9,000 flights of the 28,000 flights scheduled in southern Europe, which has been less affected by the ash, will operate on Monday.

Some 63,000 flights have been cancelled in Europe since Thursday and some 313 airports in the continent paralyzed due to the Icelandic volcano eruption, Eurocontrol said.

MOSCOW, April 19 (RIA Novosti)