Volcanic eruption in Russia sends ash 7 km high (VIDEO)

The event has triggered aviation alerts over the Kamchatka Peninsula and neighboring regions

A volcanic eruption on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East has sent a massive plume of ash high into the sky, which has traveled dozens of kilometers away from the site, prompting aviation warnings in the region.

The Shiveluch volcano erupted at around 11:00 AM local time on Wednesday, according to the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The ash column reached approximately seven kilometers above sea level, according to the Kamchatka Volcano Eruption Response Team (KVERT). Satellite data confirmed the ash plume extended roughly 110 km west of the volcano, KVERT said. Due to the hazard to aircraft, an ‘orange’ code has been declared for the area, signifying a ban or severe restriction on flights.

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Scientists have warned that the ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft and that further ash explosions up to 12 km high remain possible. The volcano is located around 450 km from the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and 50 km from the settlement of Klyuchi.

The eruption follows seismic activity in the region earlier this week. On Monday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 was recorded southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a potential precursor event.

Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka’s largest and most active volcanoes, has a history of significant eruptions. In 2024, an eruption sent ash up to eight kilometers high, leading to a higher ‘red’ code, while similar orange-level alerts were issued following events in November and September of 2025.

KVERT said volcanologists are closely monitoring the situation, noting that the volcano’s lava dome continues to grow, accompanied by strong gas-steam emissions.