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Kamchatka's Kluchevskoi volcano is about to erupt

The volcano began to wake up from dormancy in June this year. It is now given a yellow-code condition of hazardness
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, October 15 (Itar-Tass) — An eruption of Eurasia's highest volcano, Klychevskoi, has begun on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Olga Girina, director of the Kamchatka group of response to volcanic eruptions, told Itar-Tass.

Luminenscence was observed above the Klyuchevskoi peak on the night from Sunday to Monday. This is indicative of incandescent lava eruptions inside the volcano's crater. An ejection of ash to an altitude of up to six kilometres above sea level may begin at any moment. The emergence of lava flows on its slopes is also expected, Girina said.

The volcano's last eruption was observed from September 2009 to Decemberl 2010. The volcano began to wake up from dormancy in June this year. It is now given a yellow-code condition of hazardness, which warns about potential hazard of eruption to aircraft engines.

Volcano Klyuchevskoi is situated 360 km north-north-east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The nearest inhabited areas -- Klyuchi Settlement -- is situated 30 km away from the volcano's foot. The volcano is 4,750 m high.

Klyuchevskoi is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Its eruptions are attended with flows of incandescent lava and powerful ejections of ash to an altitude of up to 12 km. The volcano is under constant monitoring.