The Shiveluch volcano in听搁耻蝉蝉颈补’蝉听far eastern听碍补尘肠丑补迟办补听Peninsula erupted early on Tuesday and sent up an ash plume 10 kilometers (six miles) high, posing an increased threat to air traffic, the听碍补尘肠丑补迟办补听Volcanic听贰谤耻辫迟颈辞苍听搁别蝉辫辞苍蝉别听罢别补尘听(KVERT) said.
The听迟别补尘听issued a code red Volcano Observatory Notice for听础惫颈补迟颈辞苍, noting that ash explosions 15 kilometers (9.32 miles)high could occur at any time. “Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft,” it said.
The ash cloud following the听别谤耻辫迟颈辞苍听drifted to the west and south and measured 400 by 270 kilometers, the听碍补尘肠丑补迟办补听branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences said on Telegram. Russian media reports indicated it was continuing to spread.
Local authorities closed schools and ordered residents in nearby villages to stay indoors, head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region Oleg Bondarenko said in a Telegram post.
One of听碍补尘肠丑补迟办补‘s largest and most active volcanoes, Shiveluch has had an estimated 60 substantial听别谤耻辫迟颈辞苍s in the past 10,000 years, the last major one being in 2007.
It has two main parts, the smaller of which — Young Shiveluch — scientists have reported as being extremely active in recent months, with a peak of 2,800 meters (9,186 feet) that protrudes out of the 3,283 meter-high Old Shiveluch.
Mr. Bondarenko said the volcano erupted at 6:31 a.m. local time and that ash was falling on local villages including Klyuchi, where according to a TASS report quoting the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, ashfall was measured at 8.5 centimeters (3.35 inches), the highest level in 60 years.
“Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel,” Mr. Bondarenko added. – Reuters
