The volcanic eruption response team in the Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the far east of Russia, announced that the "Shiveluch" volcano erupted in the early hours of this Tuesday, sending a column of ash rising ten kilometers, which poses an increasing threat to air traffic.
The team issued a warning for air navigation, noting that "a large ash cloud is moving west from the volcano and that the ash could erupt at any moment at heights reaching 15 kilometers. Continued volcanic activity may affect international air travel and aircraft flying at low altitudes."
Oleg Bondarenko, the mayor of the Ust-Kamchatsky region, stated in a post on the messaging app Telegram that "local authorities have closed schools and instructed residents in nearby villages to stay indoors due to the spread of the ash cloud," adding that "the volcanic eruption occurred at 6:31 AM local time and the gray cloud has spread over the villages of Klyuchi and Kozyrevsk, which are more than 70 kilometers apart."
