Ash Fell Near Eurasia's Largest Volcano in Eruption

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Feb. 1 (RIA Novosti, by Oksana Guseva) - Ash has fallen in the vicinity of Eurasia's largest volcano, Klyuchevskoy, as a result of its eruption.

According to the Kamchatka experimental and procedures seismic station, the crater is ejecting steam and ash as high as up to 1 km. The plume has stretched out at more than 100 km in the northwestern direction.

Seismic stations near the volcano have registered high-frequency vibration. Video monitoring of the volcano is difficult because of its remoteness and adverse weather conditions. However, scientists think that the vibration was accompanied by a discharge of ash or a lava stream. Dark volcanic ash has fallen in the vicinity of Klyushevskoy.

According to Alexei Ozerov, senior researcher with the Volcanology and Seismology Institute of the Far Eastern Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the summit crater, which is about 700 m in diameter, is being filled with lava. The magnitude of the eruption that began on January 17 has been growing.

Summit crater eruptions normally last from a month to several years, posing a serious threat to domestic and international air services. Foreign object damage (FOD) to jet engines from volcanic ash particles that may be up to 2 mm in diameter can result in engine failure.

At present, the Klyuchevskoy volcano that is 4,822 m high does not jeopardize urban areas nearby, of which the town of Klyuchi 30 km away from the foot of the volcano is the closest one.

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Ebeko Volcano Awoke in Paramushir Island

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Feb. 1 (RIA Novosti, by Pyotr Tsyrendorzhiyev) - The Ebeko volcano has awoken with a jolt at the North Kuril island of Paramushir in the Russian Far East.

According to the spokesperson for the Sakhalin Region's Main Civil Defense and Emergency Department, the seismic activity of the volcano has increased considerably and the temperature in its crater has risen, with the volcano being situated just 7 km away from the city of Severo-Kurilsk.

Ebeko's crater is trailing a steam plume about 500 m high, and sulphurous gas can be smelled in Severo-Kurilsk.

The state of the volcano indicates an eruption is possible in the near future, the press service reported. In such a case, ash fallout and eruptive tuffs might hit the city. A power generation plant and the central city hospital are within the danger zone.

The Ebeko volcano is 1,156 m high above sea level. Last time, it erupted between 1987 and 1990. The volcano erupts roughly every 10-30 years, the spokesperson said.