Flights into and out of Perth in Western Australia have been cancelled due to the volcanic eruption in Chile.

Airlines Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar said the ash cloud was too low around Perth for aircraft to fly safely.

Winds have carried particles 5,600 miles (9,000km) from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano range.

The eruption, which began on 4 June, has caused levels of flight disruption not seen since an Icelandic volcano paralysed Europe in 2010.

Experts monitoring the Puyehue volcano believe its eruption is likely to grow more violent in the coming days.

Previous eruptions in 1960 and in 1921 lasted for about two months.

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