PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, May 29 (Itar-Tass) – New ejections of volcanic ash to an elevation of up to 7,000 meters above sea level have been registered over the crater of Kamchatka’s Sheveluch volcano, the Kamchatkan affiliation of the Geophysical Service of the
Russian Academy of Sciences said.
Gauges detected a chain of seismic events at the volcano and they were accompanied by a powerful belching-out of ash to the elevations varying from 4.3 kilometers to 7.3 kilometers.
For the greater part of the period, over which the ejections continued, the summit of the volcano was enveloped by thick clouds but residents of the town of Klyuchi, the closest population center located some 50 kilometers away from the Shiveluch’s piedmont, could see a huge column of dust rise into the sky.
There have been no reports on any ashfall in the townships located in the Shiveluch area and the situation does not pose any danger for local residents, seismic surveyors say.
The Geophysical Service has sent out reports on the situation to the services supporting domestic and international flights on the risks that volcanic ash may pose for aircraft engines.
The Shiveluch is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka. It is located some 450 to the northeast of the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and erupts in a blast-like manner.
The surges of the Shiveluch’s activity that occurred in 1864 and 1864 were classified by scientists as disasters.
The highest point of the volcano’s active zone, also known as the Young Sheveluch, is located at 2,500 meters above sea level, and the crater has a diameter of 1.5 kilomters.
Young Shiveluch went active in September 1980 and researchers keep it under permanent watch.