Volcano erupts in Russia, sending ash plume 20 km high.

Just after midnight, the Shiveluch volcano on the eastern Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia erupted and peaked about six hours later, forming an ash cloud over an area of ​​108,000 square kilometers, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Survey.

A street covered in volcanic ash on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Photo: Oleg Bondarenko

Lava flows from the volcano melted the snow and issued landslide warnings along the nearby highway. Meanwhile, affected villages were covered in a layer of gray ash up to 8.5 cm thick, the deepest in 60 years.

"The ash cloud is up to 20 kilometers thick, moving westward and falling heavily on nearby villages," said Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey.

"This volcano has been preparing for an eruption for at least a year... and the process is still ongoing, although it has calmed down a bit now," Chebrov said.

The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) has issued a red alert to the aviation industry, stating that the eruption could affect low-altitude flights and international aircraft.

Several schools on the Kamchatka Peninsula, about 6,800 km east of Moscow, have closed due to the effects of the volcanic eruption. Authorities have also urged residents to stay indoors and wear face masks. Meanwhile, electricity has been restored in the area and drinking water is being supplied.

Satellite image of the Shiveluch volcano on November 26, 2022. Photo: Roscosmos

As one of the largest and most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Mount Shiveluch has erupted approximately 60 significant times in the last 10,000 years. The most recent major eruption was in 2007.

Mount Shiveluch is 3,283 meters high, with a base diameter of approximately 45-50 kilometers. The highest point of the active volcano, known as Young Shiveluch, is located 2,800 meters above sea level. Scientists report that Young Shiveluch has been extremely active in recent months. The nearest populated area is Klyuchi, 50 kilometers from the volcano.

Scientists have released images of swirling ash clouds over forests and rivers in the Far East, along with images of villages covered in volcanic ash. One image shows the ash layer to be more than 8 cm thick.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nui-lua-phun-trao-o-nga-lop-tro-bui-cao-20-km-post243183.html