PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 7 (Itar-Tass) — New 3.5–4-km-high ash emissions from the southern slope of active volcano Plosky Tolbachik are seen from the nearest settlement on Kamchatka.
The settlement of Kozyrevsk is located 40 km away from the volcano. There is no threat to the residential areas.
The active volcano has an "orange" aviation threat code warning about the danger for flights, according to the KVERT Kamchatka group of the Volcanology and Seismology Institute of the Far Eastern branch of the RAS.
The giant’s eruption has aroused high interest among tourists. Despite the warnings, at least five groups of adventurers plan to go to the volcano next weekend, an Emergencies Ministry source said.
A group to rescuers was sent there on Friday to be on duty at the volcano for the next two days.
Plosky Tolbachnik became active on November 27 after 36 years of "sleeping" since the 1975–1976 Great Crack Eruption. Up to five-km-long split was formed on Tolbachinsky Dol south of Plosky Tolbachik at a height of about 1.7 km above sea level with two active centres that spew lava. The flows of lava extend 13 km. The total area of lava fields is about 12–13 sq km. Their edges are up to five-metre-high fire walls heated to 1,000 degrees.
The Emergencies Ministry notes it cannot impose a ban on visiting the volcano.
None of the groups of tourists has registered the routes in the rescue services.
The height of Plosky Tolbachnik is 3,085 metres above sea level. It is located in the southwestern sector of the Klychevskaya group of volcanoes on eastern Kamchatka, 63 km away from the settlement of Klyuchi and 343 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The eruption is constantly monitored.