Alaska volcano sparks aviation alert

There are fears a volcanic eruption in Alaska could affect aviation because of an ash cloud which has risen nine kilometres above sea level.

A volcano on Alaska's Aleutian Island chain that has erupted frequently in the past eight months has sent up another ash cloud, leading an agency to issue a warning to aviation.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the Bogoslof volcano erupted on Saturday, creating an ash cloud that rose nine kilometres above sea level.

The agency issued a red, or warning, alert to aviation because of the ash cloud.

Bogoslof has erupted periodically since mid-December.