Russia's Klyuchevskoy Volcano eruption ends, leaving new scoria cone in Kamchatka

Moscow, Aug 14 (IANS) The eruption of Klyuchevskoy Volcano, located in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, has ended, leaving behind a new scoria cone in its crater, said the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences on its Telegram channel.

Klyuchevskoy, standing at 4,754 meters above sea level and situated around 30 km from the village of Klyuchi, is one of Eurasia's most active volcanoes. The eruption, which began on July 30, followed a strong earthquake in the region the day before, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ash plumes soared up to 12 km into the sky, with ashfall affecting communities across the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal district.

On August 7, the aviation alert code for Klyuchevskoy Volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East was raised from orange to red following intensified eruptive activity.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences said a summit explosive-effusive eruption is currently underway, with satellite data showing ash rising up to 9.5 km above sea level and ash plume drifting some 141 km east-southeast of the volcano.

KVERT warned that ash explosions up to 10 km above sea level could occur at any moment, which would potentially affect international and low-flying aircraft in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Standing at about 4,754 metres, Klyuchevskoy is the highest active volcano in Eurasia.

Summit eruptions have intensified following a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula last week.

Earlier on August 6, a dam had been destroyed near the Klyuchevskoy Volcano, raising concerns over potential mudflows and transportation disruptions in the region.

Fieldwork conducted from July 30 to August 2 near the Studenaya River revealed that the dam -- constructed in 2023 to separate the river's right and left channels -- had collapsed, allowing water to flow freely through both channels, the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences said in its Telegram channel.

Scientists had attributed the damage to increased volcanic activity triggered by a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 30.

Lava from Klyuchevskoy volcano is currently descending toward the Bogdanovich Glacier, causing accelerated ice melt. The resulting surge of meltwater cascades down the slopes, generating large-scale mud and debris flows.

Experts warn that if these flows continue to intensify, they will cause a direct threat to tourists in the Tolbachinsky Valley.

--IANS

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