A volcano erupted early Tuesday on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, spewing clouds of dust 20 kilometers (65,600 feet) into the sky and covering broad areas with ash.
The ash cloud from the eruption of Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka's most active volcanoes, extended over 500 kilometers (more than 300 miles) northwest and engulfed several villages in grey volcanic dust.
Officials closed the skies over the area to aircraft. Local authorities advised residents to stay indoors and shut schools in several affected communities. Two villages had their power supplies cut for a few hours until emergency crews restored them.
According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the ash cloud from the Shiveluch volcano eruption has spread over 500 km.
Ashfall in the village of Klyuchi (50 km from the volcano) is the worst recorded in the last 60 years: 8.5 cm of ash so far.Karma? pic.twitter.com/ZH3kPvsLm1— Natalka (@NatalkaKyiv) April 11, 2023
End of Day: Volcano Eruption Blocks the Sun in 🇷🇺
Shiveluch spewed ash to heights of 20km on Tuesday in the Russian Far East triggering the highest level warnings for aviation and covering parts of the region in 'black snow'. pic.twitter.com/BeG8acBUpZ— RT_India (@RT_India_news) April 11, 2023
Holy smoke!
The eruption of the Sheveluch Volcano in Russian Kamchatka has just begun... pic.twitter.com/LU9hdNIUmT— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown2075) April 11, 2023
Ash fell on 108,000 square kilometers (41,699 square miles) of territory, according to the regional branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Survey. Scientists described the fallout as the biggest in nearly 60 years.
The village of Klyuchi, which is located about 50 kilometers (some 30 miles) from the volcano, was covered by an 8-centimeter (3-inch) layer of dust. Residents posted videos showing the ash cloud plunging the area into darkness.
Kamchatka Gov. Vladimir Solodov said there was no need for mass evacuation but added that some residents who have health issues could be temporarily evacuated.
Shiveluch has two parts, the 3,283-meter (10,771-foot) Old Shiveluch, and the smaller, highly active Young Shiveluch.
The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) issued a red notice for aviation, saying "ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft."
Some schools in the Kamchatka peninsula, about 6,800 km east of Moscow, were closed and residents ordered to stay indoors, head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region Oleg Bondarenko said in a Telegram post.
"Because what I have just seen here with my own eyes, it will be impossible for children to go to school, and in general, the presence of children here is questionable," Bondarenko said.
The Kamchatka Peninsula, which extends into the Pacific Ocean about 6,600 kilometers (4,000 miles) east of Moscow, is one of the world’s most concentrated area of geothermal activity, with about 30 active volcanoes.
(Edited by : Sangam Singh)
First Published: Apr 11, 2023 12:26 PM IST
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